Résumé
BACKGROUND: Skin disorders are common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in Korea. However, introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has changed the skin manifestations of HIV infection. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the frequency of skin disorders and their immune status using CD4+ T lymphocyte counts in HIV infected patients. METHODS: A retrospective study of 134 HIV-infected patients who visited in our clinic was carried out from September 2008 to July 2011. All subjects underwent complete physical examination to detect their skin disorders as well as necessary diagnostic procedures by consultation with the dermatologist. RESULTS: Tinea infection (including tinea corporis, tinea pedis and onychomycosis) was the most common skin disorder identified. Patients with a CD4+ T lymphocyte count of less than 200 cells/mm3 showed a significantly higher prevalence of syphilis, oral candidiasis and drug eruption compared with patients with a CD4+ T lymphocyte count of over 200 cells/mm3. CONCLUSION: Numerous skin disorders were demonstrated in HIV-infected patients. Among them, tinea infection was the most common skin manifestation in 134 HIV-infected patients. Moreover, Syphilis, oral candidiasis and drug eruption were associated with low CD4+ T lymphocyte counts. Further evaluation is necessary to confirm the trend towards changes in skin manifestations in HIV infected patients.