Particular clinical presentations of psoriasis in HIV patients

Abstract

Patients with HIV infection have a higher propensity for infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic and metabolic disorders. The link with psoriasis vulgaris is explained by well-known pathophysiological phenomena and can be observed at any stage of infection. The aim of our study was to characterize the clinical spectrum of psoriasis in a group of 50 patients with HIV. Our findings showed particular clinical presentations of psoriasis in those patients, suggesting a predilection for scalp lesions, palmoplantar keratoderma and flexural involvement, as well as a trend towards severe immunodeficiency. Psoriasis, a frequent reason for consultation, allows earlier suspicion and diagnosis of HIV in the presence of these particular patterns.