BACKGROUND: The T-helper CD4+ lymphocyte blood count and number of viral RNA copies are laboratory markers tracing the progression of HIV-induced immunodeficiency. OBJECTIVES: Relate the markers indicating the varying degree of imunity in HIV-infected patients to the clinical aspects of the dermatoses present. METHODS: The sample consists of 172 patients, who were submitted to quantifications of T CD4+ and CD8 lymphocytes by the cytometric flow technique as well as quantifications of viral RNA by the nucleic acid amplification technique (NucliSens). They were classified in patients with or without accentuated immunosuppression, based on the CDC-1992 clinic and laboratory classification of HIV infection. RESULTS: The average percentage of skin afflicted by dermatoses was 12.5% and the average number of dermatoses per patient was 2.08. Neoplasic dermatoses and dermatoses of the miscellaneous group predominated in individuals with CD4+ T •200 cells/mm³ lymphocyte values, whereas CD4+ T >200 cells/mm³ lymphocyte values predominated in patients infected by arthropods. CONCLUSION: The number of dermatoses per patient proved to be a marker for the course of immunosuppression (p=0,003). The percentage of skin extension affected by dermatoses did not lend itself to measuring the severity of dermatoses in HIV-infected patients (p=0,6058). The CD4+ T and CD8+ T and viral load lymphocyte count were efficient measurers of the degree of immunosuppression in dermatosis-infected patients (p=0.003).
allergy and immunology; skin diseases; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
