Dermatological conditions in HIV infection.

Dermatological conditions are often the presenting feature of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and include Kaposi's sarcoma and opportunistic infections. Kaposi's sarcoma is the initial presentation ofAIDS in over one quarter ofhomosexual men, though it is less common in other groups.'-3 Opportunistic infections may be disseminated and present as skin lesions from which they can be diagnosed.45 Patients with AIDS and related syndromes have a high incidence of seborrhoeic eczema" and, less commonly, folliculitis," vasculitis," and viral and fungal conditions.'2 Various unclassifiable conditions have also been described.'3 Oral manifestations include candidiasis, malignancy, and oral hairy leucoplakia."M The large number of patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at this hospital prompted us to establish a joint venereology and dermatology clinic to investigate the dermato- pathology of HIV related disease. To date 146 patients have been seen, all homosexual men. Thirty patients had AIDS,' 16 48 had persistent generalised lymphadenopathy,'7 and 68 were asympto- -^6 w ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~: r : FIl 1-Braise like Kaposi's sarcoma (patch stage) on hed. Histological diagnosis can be difficult at this stage."