Relationship of Oral Lesions and CD4 Count in Female HIV Patients in South Western Nigeria

Background: Oral lesions have been reported to be early clinical features of HIV infection.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV Seropositive female patients and correlate the CD4 count with the appearance of oral lesions in the female patients attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin (UBTH).
Methods: A prospective study was undertaken in 172 newly diagnosed adult HIV infected female patients (not on antiretroviral therapy), who attended the PEPFAR clinic at LUTH and the HIV Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. They were assessed for oral lesions which were evaluated using EEC/WHO (2003) – Classification on the diagnostic criteria for oral lesions in HIV. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Following Oral examination undertaken, oral lesions were detected, recorded and treated. CD4+ values were evaluated from blood samples of patient at presentation.
Results: A total of 172 HIV infected female patients were enrolled into the study. The age range of the participants was 18-65 years, (mean age: 36 + 9.2 years). The commonest oral lesion observed was pseudomembranous candidiasis (n=42, 35.9%); followed by melanotic hyperpigmentation (n=14, 12%) and Linear gingival erythema (LGE) was 12 (10.3%) cases. A high prevalence of oral lesions was seen in patients with low CD4+ count (<200 cells/mm3). P value = .001.
Conclusion: Oral lesions are common features of HIV and were seen more in patients with low CD4 count.