Pigmentation: a potential cutaneous marker for AIDS?

J Dermatol. 2004 Sep;31(9):756-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2004.tb00591.x.

Abstract

Pigmentation of skin, nails and mucosae has frequently been described in HIV positive patients. Various causes for this phenomenon have been ascribed, which include intake of various drugs like zidovudine, opportunistic infections like toxoplasmosis and adrenocortical suppression. However, there has been no uniform explanation. We describe three AIDS patients with different personal and disease profiles but essentially the same pattern of pigmentation. This pattern of pigmentation is thereby discussed. We also propose that this pigmentation could be a result of late stage HIV disease per se and thus could serve as a useful cutaneous marker for the same.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Genitalia, Male / pathology
  • Humans
  • Leg / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Mucosa / pathology
  • Nails / pathology
  • Pigmentation Disorders / complications
  • Pigmentation Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Pigmentation Disorders / pathology
  • Tongue / pathology