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Skin response to ultraviolet B light in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus
Author(s) -
Kaporis A.,
Lim H. W.,
Moy J.,
Soter N. A.,
Sanchez M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0781.1995.tb00167.x
Subject(s) - medicine , photosensitivity , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , erythema , cohort , gastroenterology , population , dermatology , group b , surgery , immunology , physics , environmental health , quantum mechanics
Photosensitivity disorders have been reported in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected patients, often as the initial manifestation of the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the HIV‐infected population demonstrates increased sensitivity to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. Minimal erythema dose values to UVB (MED‐B) of 57 consecutive HIV‐infected patients were compared to those of a control group of 57 consecutive patients with skin diseases, who were otherwise healthy and had no risk factors for HIV infection. MED‐B determinations were performed in all individuals prior to the initiation of phototherapy for treatment of skin disease. None of the patients had a history of photosensitivity. Furthermore, the mean levels of the highest UVB doses received by each group during the treatment courses were compared. The mean age of the HIV‐infected cohort was 43 years (range 26–61 years). The mean MED‐B for this group was 82.8±3.8 (SEM) mJ/cm 2 . The mean age of the control group was 45 years (range 24–77 years), and their mean MED‐B was 81.0±3.8 (SEM) mJ/cm 2 . After 12 weeks of treatment, one HIV‐infected patient developed photosensitivity associated with a decreased MED‐B value. The mean level of the highest UVB doses received by the HIV‐infected group [427.5±67.2 (SEM) mJ/cm 2 ] was lower than that received by the control group [640.8±65.9 (SEM) mJ/cm 2 ], since HIV‐infected patients received fewer treatments (mean: 34.7 treatments per patient) than the patients in the control group (mean: 65.6 treatments per patient). These data indicate that the HIV‐infected patient population, without history of photosensitivity, does not show increased sensitivity to UVB light as determined by MED‐B values.