Acquired ichthyosis in concomitant HIV-1 and HTLV-II infection: a new association with intravenous drug abuse.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Papulosquamous eruptions are common in HIV-1-infected patients. Acquired ichthyosis may occur after profound T-cell depletion. Intravenous drug users infected with HIV-1 can be coinfected with human lymphotropic virus II (HTLV-II).

OBJECTIVE:

We examined the relation between acquired ichthyosis and concomitant infection with HIV-1 and HTLV-II in intravenous drug users.

METHODS:

We examined 184 male and female HIV-1-positive intravenous drug users for acquired ichthyosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to screen these patients for antibody to HTLV-I/II. Western blot, viral isolation, and the polymerase chain reaction were used to confirm that serologic responses were from HTLV-II and not HTLV-I.

RESULTS:

Acquired ichthyosis occurred in 6.3% of white, 16.4% of Hispanic, and 21.7% of black patients. It occurred only after profound helper T-cell depletion, in association with increasing age, and with concomitant infection with HTLV-II (22.2% vs. 6.8% in HIV-1 singly infected patients [p < 0.038]).

CONCLUSION:

Acquired ichthyosis may be a marker of concomitant infection with HIV-1 and HTLV-II in intravenous drug users and occurs after profound helper T-cell depletion.

• Authors: M H Kaplan, N S Sadick, N S McNutt, M Talmor, M Coronesi, W W Hall
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (J Am Acad Dermatol) Vol. 29 Issue 5 Pt 1 Pg. 701-8 (Nov 1993) ISSN: 0190-9622 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8227542 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• DNA, Viral

Topics

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (complications, diagnosis, immunology, microbiology)
• Adult
• DNA, Viral (analysis)
• Female
• HIV-1 (isolation & purification)
• HTLV-II Infections (complications, diagnosis, immunology, microbiology)
• Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (isolation & purification)
• Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Ichthyosis (complications, diagnosis, immunology, microbiology)
• Male
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Substance Abuse, Intravenous
• T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer (immunology)