title: A relationship between CD4 count and oral manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy in urban population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection gradually destroys the body's immune system, which makes it harder for the body to fight infections. HIV infection causes a quantitative and qualitative depletion of CD4 lymphocyte count, which increases the risk of opportunistic infections. Thus, CD4 count is one of the key factors in determining both the urgency of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation and the need of prophylaxis for opportunistic infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and variations in the oral manifestations of HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients on HAART therapy in urban population and their association with CD4 count.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was conducted by screening eighty patients who were HIV positive in an urban location. Both adult and pediatric patients were screened for oral manifestations and simultaneously CD4 count was also evaluated. Patients with HIV infection for variable time period who are under HAART were considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures of central tendency were used to analyse the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV infection destroys the immune system of an individual, making the patient susceptible to various infections and malignancies. With the advent of antiretroviral therapy, the scenario has changed drastically. We have observed that patients with CD4 counts between 164 and 1286 show relatively few oral manifestations. Long-term HAART therapy causes pigmentation, xerostomia and angular cheilitis but is taken up quite well by the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, eighty patients with HAART from urban population showed very minimal oral findings because of good accessibility for treatment and awareness about HIV infections. The patients who were on long-standing HAART treatment also showed minimal oral manifestation such as pigmentation and xerostomia. Hence, we conclude that recognition, significance and treatment of these lesions in patients with HIV infection do not require elaborate setup and can be treated with basic primary health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Gadavalli Vera Venkata
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Satyakiran
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Radhika Manoj
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bavle
authors.affiliation: Managing Director, Asha Foundation, Indiranagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Glory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Consultant Peadiatrician, Asha Foundation, Indiranagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Saritha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Reshma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venugopal
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Krishnadevaraya College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sreelatha S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hosthor
keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; CD4 lymphocytes; human immunodeficiency virus; oral manifestations of AIDS; pigmentation; xerostomia