Molluscum contagiosum and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Evolution of HIV-1-related conjunctival molluscum contagiosum under HAART: report of a bilaterally manifesting case and literature review

“…At this time, the patient had an HIV-1 plasma load of 39 copies/ml and a CD4 T-lymphocyte count of 88 cells/ l. Molluscum contagiosum is the sole member of the genus Molluscipox and the last member of the Poxviridae family to specifically infect humans [13,36]. MC infections received little attention until the advent of the AIDS epidemic, when extensive and recalcitrant MC lesions emerged as an important cause of disfigurement and morbidity [9,31,33,51]. MC most closely resembles variolae vaccinus, sharing its characteristic ability to replicate entirely within the cytoplasm [36], and the feature of the restricted host range, with man being the only natural host that can support virus replication [36,52].…”

“…In immunocompromised patients, however, lesions may have an atypical appearance [5,8] and be multiple and frequently confluent [4]. MC is known to be a cutaneous marker of advanced HIV infection, a circumstance that has been well documented in both adults and children [23,28,33,40,50]. Individual case reports of atypical MC have been associated with atopic dermatitis [27,38], sarcoidosis [17], lymphatic leukaemia [46], T-cell deficiency [39], treatment with prednisone and methotrexate [49] and TNF-a-antibody therapy [10].…”

Mollusca contagiosa multiples révélateurs d’une infection à HTLV III

“…Parmi les lésions cutanées indicatrices d 'origine virale, le molluscum contagiosum a longtemps été négligé, deux publications seulement en faisant évasi vement état jusqu'il y a peu [2,10]. Son intérêt a toute fois été souligné depuis par plusieurs publications très récentes [4,5,8,9,13].…”

Skin diseases and sexually transmitted diseases in HIV‐infected patients on HAART compared to a non‐infected population – results of a retrospective study

“…These included epidemic Kaposi sarcoma in homosexual patients [2, 3] and the previously unknown oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL), which presents with hyperkeratotic mucosal deposits on the lateral margins of the tongue [4]. Opportunistic infections caused by viral and fungal agents, as well as protozoa, were also noted [5–8]. These skin diseases tended to be unusually serious, affected atypical sites on the skin, and were highly resistant to treatment.…”