Prevalence of skin disorders in HIV patients in Senegal and relationship to degree of immunosuppression

Background: The aim was to evaluate the association between dermatological findings in HIV-infected patients in Senegal and degree of immunosuppression and HIV stage. Patients and methods: All consecutive HIV infected patients followed up at three dermatology centres in Senegal from 01 January 2004 to 01 January 2006 were evaluated retrospectively regarding dermatological findings, CD4 cell count and HIV stage. Patients and methods: One hundred and forty-nine patients with 331 skin diseases were evaluated. The most common forms of dermatosis were oral candidiasis (53%), herpes zoster (24%), prurigo (24%) and dermatophytosis (16%). An increasing number of skin diseases was significantly associated with CD4 counts of below 200 per cubic millimeter and Aids diagnosis. A significant association (p < 0.05) was found between two types of dermatosis (oral candidiasis and chromonychia) and CD4 counts of below 200 per cubic millimeter and between four types of dermatosis (straightened hair, herpes, oral candidiasis and xerosis) and Aids diagnosis. Conclusion: Dermatological findings are of great diagnostic and prognostic significance. We found some features specific to black skin: longitudinal melanonychia and blue ungueal pigmentation potentially related to immunosuppression and straightened hair, associated with Aids, probably resulting from denutrition. © 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.