Oral hairy leukoplakia. A distinctive marker of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) infection. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Oral hairy leukoplakia. A distinctive marker of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) infection.

Arch Dermatol. 1987 May;123(5):624-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/87212100
Lupton GP; James WD; Redfield RR; Brown C; Rodman OG

Abstract: Oral hairy leukoplakia (HL) is a newly described lesion occurring principally on the lateral borders of the tongue in immunosuppressed homosexual men infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). Clinically, HL appears as a slightly raised, poorly demarcated lesion with a corrugated or hairy surface. Histologically, the lesion is characterized by keratin projections on the surface (which often resemble hairs), parakeratosis, and acanthosis. In addition, large pale-staining cells with pyknotic nuclei are seen in the upper stratum malpighii, which appear similar to the koilocytes described in uterine condylomata. Candida organisms are frequently observed on the lesion surface. Little, if any, subepithelial inflammation is present. Human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus have been identified in biopsy specimens from lesions of oral HL. The association of this lesion in patients with HTLV-III infection has been established. We saw a patient with HTLV-III infection and HL, in whom the immunochemical and ultrastructural findings revealed the presence of a mixed viral infection. Because oral HL may be of diagnostic value as an early indicator of HTLV-III infection, awareness of its characteristic clinical, histologic, immunochemical, and ultrastructural features is important.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS Adult Case Report Histocytochemistry Human Immunochemistry Leukoplakia, Oral/*COMPLICATIONS/MICROBIOLOGY/PATHOLOGY/ ULTRASTRUCTURE Male Microscopy, Electron Papillomavirus/ISOLATION & PURIF JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDcomplicationsadultcasereporthistocytochemistryhumanimmunochemistryleukoplakia,oral/KWDcomplications/microbiology/pathology/ultrastructuremalemicroscopy,electronpapillomavirus/isolation&purifjournalarticle
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M8780042

Copyright © 1987 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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