| Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV-infected women, and to determine the association of oral lesions with the level of immunosuppression and the route of transmission. PATIENTS: In a retrospective, cross-sectional study, a cohort of 70 HIV-infected women (median age: 32.5 y; median CD4+-cell count 262 per μl) comprising 18% of all HIV-infected individuals (n = 389) was selected in an outpatient clinic. Oral lesions strongly associated with HIV-infection were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of oral lesions was 27/70 (39%). Among HIV-infected women with CD4+-cell counts <200 per μl, the prevalence was 65% (19/29); and with counts >200 per μl, the prevalence was 27% (11/41). The prevalence of candidiasis and hairy leukoplakia was similar among those infected heterosexually or by intravenous drug use. CONCLUSIONS: As reported in men, these findings demonstrate that oral lesions are common in HIV-infected women. Candidiasis is more likely to occur at low CD4+-cell counts, whereas no difference was seen regarding the level of immunosuppression and hairy leukoplakia. Interestingly, the route of transmission does not play a role regarding the presence of oral lesions among HIV-infected women. |
