title: The effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy on the prevalence of oral manifestation in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Karnataka, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a highly lethal, progressively epidemic viral infection characterized by profound impairment of the immune system. Oral manifestations are common in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected AIDS patients, and are usually the first indicator of symptom and disease progression. The main objective of the current study was to compare the prevalence of oral manifestations in HIV patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) with those, not on HAART therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 patients diagnosed as human immune virus sero-positive. These patients were divided equally into two groups (50 each); Group I patients on HAART and Group II patients who were not on HAART. Information regarding age, sex and cluster of differentiation 4 cell count was obtained from the medical records. Oral examination was done, and findings were recorded by using internationally accepted presumptive clinical criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square statistical test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of oral manifestations was significantly decreased in subjects on HAART (32%) compared to those who are not on HAART (56%). The most common oral lesions detected in patients on HAART were increased oral hyper-pigmentation (14%), recurrent aphthous stomatitis (8%), non-specific ulcerations (4%), pseudo-membranous candidiasis (2%), periodontitis (2%) and xerostomia (2%), whereas in non HAART oral hyperpigmentation (10%), pseudo-membranous candidiasis (8%), angular cheilitis (4%), and erythematous candidiasis (4%) and Periodontitis (14%) were more prevalent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number and severity of oral manifestation decreased, and even there was a change in the type of oral manifestations on HAART, which may be because of the improvement in immunity gained by the therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Vyas Dental College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Neelkant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, KLE Dental College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Vishwajit Rampratap
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Chaurasia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Vyas Dental College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Babaji
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, AME'S Dental College and Hospital, Raichur, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Dnsv
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Indraprasthaal College, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Kshitij
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jhamb
authors.affiliation: BDS Student, KLE Dental College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Akanksha Manmohan
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sharma
keywords: Cluster of differentiation 4 cell; highly active antiretroviral therapy; immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; oral manifestations