Presence Of Oral Hairy Leukoplakia Research Articles

Epstein-Barr virus oral shedding and viremia and their association with oral hairy leukoplakia in HIV+ individuals.

To assess the oral shedding and viremia of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in HIV-positive patients and their relationship with oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL). A total of 94 HIV-positive patients were included in the study, in which blood and saliva samples were collected for EBV quantification. Data on gender, age, time of HIV seropositivity, combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), CD4+ T-cell counts, and HIV viral load were collected. OHL diagnosis was based on histopathological examination and EBV in situ hybridization. The EBV load in the 94 HIV-positive patients was higher in saliva than in blood (2.4 and 1.6, respectively), and there was a positive correlation between EBV oral shedding and viremia (p=0.001). Twenty (21.27%) patients had OHL and also a higher EBV load in saliva (mean log10 =3.11) compared to those who had no OHL (p=0.045). Presence of OHL was only associated with age (p=0.030). In HIV-positive patients, the presence of OHL was associated with EBV oral shedding but not with viremia, regardless of the amount of circulating CD4+ T cells.

Considerations in the diagnosis of oral hairy leukoplakia—an institutional experience

We report here the 10-year experience with oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) at the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA. All the associated hematoxylin and eosin and Epstein-Barr virus encoding region in situ hybridization slides of OHL cases between January 1, 2008, and February 1, 2017, were retrieved and reviewed. Collected demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, medical and social histories were reviewed and reported. Six OHL cases with confirmed in situ hybridization showed predilection for the lateral tongue. The study included 3 females and 3 males (mean age 50.5 years; age range 29-70 years). One patient had known HIV-positive status before biopsy was performed. Three patients had reported a history of heavy smoking. Other medical conditions reported were history of breast cancer, a long history of corticosteroid inhaler use for asthma treatment, high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension. The findings of this study indicate the need to include OHL as a potential entity in the differential diagnosis of leukoplakic tongue lesions, regardless of the patient's HIV status. In addition, the presence of OHL in the patient requires investigation of various explanations for EBV infection, including immunosuppression caused by HIV infection or chronic steroid use.

Diagnosis of Oral Hairy Leukoplakia: The Importance of EBV In Situ Hybridization.

Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which has been related to HIV infection. In situ hybridization (ISH) is the gold-standard diagnosis of OHL, but some authors believe in the possibility of performing the diagnosis based on clinical basis. The aim of this study is diagnose incipient lesions of OHL by EBV ISH of HIV-infected patients and the possible correlations with clinical characteristics of the patients. Ninety-four patients were examined and those presenting with clinical lesions compatible to OHL were submitted to biopsy prior to EBV ISH. Twenty-eight patients had lesions clinically compatible to the diagnosis of OHL, but only 20 lesions were confirmed by EBV ISH. The patients with OHL had a mean age of 41.9 years and were HIV-infected for 11.2 years, on average, including CD4 count of 504.7 cells/mm3 and log10 viral load = 1.1. Among the quantitative variables, there was a statistically significant correlation with age only (P = 0.030). In conclusion, the presence of OHL in patients with HIV/AIDS results in changes in the epidemiological characteristics of the disease, and this fact allied with subtle clinical-morphological features makes clinical diagnosis very difficult. Therefore, EBV ISH is important for a definitive diagnosis of OHL.

Twenty-first-century oral hairy leukoplakia—a non–HIV-associated entity

This study presents the clinicopathologic features of a series (N = 35) of patients with non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL). Patients with non-HIV-associated OHL were identified from three centers. Epstein-Barr virus infection was demonstrated by using EBV early ribonucleic acid in situ hybridization. The presence of Candida co-infection was evaluated by diastase periodic acid-Schiff staining. The clinical features were determined by review of the medical records. Twenty-eight patients had intercurrent respiratory problems requiring long-term steroid inhaler use, four suffered from autoimmune diseases requiring immunosuppressant therapy, and four had diabetes. The majority of lesions were located on the tongue, and 24 showed evidence of Candida co-infection. In the twenty-first century, the presence of OHL should not be regarded as pathognomic for HIV infection or significant systemic immunosuppression. Local and systemic immunosuppression, in the form of steroid inhaler use, is a risk factor for the development of OHL.

Risk factors for oral hairy leukoplakia in HIV‐infected adults of Brazil

Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) may be an indicator of the progression of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-induced immuno-depression, and the evaluation of risk factors leading to OHL is important in the management of these HIV-infected patients. However, there are few studies that analyze risk factors leading to OHL in the Brazilian population. The aim of this case-control study is to present data about prevalence rates and risk factors leading to OHL in a sample of HIV-infected adults in Brazil. This case-control study included 111 HIV-infected patients treated at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. In the initial examinations with dentists, variables were collected from all patients. Diagnosis of OHL was performed in accordance with the International Classification System and cytological features. The Fisher and the chi-squared tests were used for statistical analysis. The proportional prevalence and odds ratio were estimated. Outcome presented a positive, statistically significant association among the presence of OHL and viral load of 3000 copies/mul or greater (P = 0.0001; odds ratio (OR) = 5.8), presence of oral candidiasis (P = 0.0000; OR = 11.1), previous use of fluconazole (P = 0.0000; OR = 24.6), and use of systemic acyclovir (P = 0.032; OR = 4.3). Antiretroviral medication presented a negative, statistically significant association with the presence of OHL (P = 0.002; OR = 8.4). Prevalence of OHL was 28.8%. Viral load, oral candidiasis, previous use of fluconazole, and systemic acyclovir were determined to be risk factors for OHL. Antiretroviral medication proved to be protective against the development of OHL.

A comparison of two dosing regimens of zidovudine in Thai adults with early symptomatic HIV infection. Conducting clinical HIV trials in South-East Asia

To compare the clinical and immunological efficacy, and tolerance of two dosage regimens of zidovudine (ZDV) in an adult Thai population with early symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and to identify important clinical issues associated with conducting HIV trials in South-East Asia. HIV-infected Thai adults, with early symptomatic HIV disease and CD4 lymphocyte counts less than 400/mm3, who were managed in the infectious diseases clinics at two university teaching hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand, were enrolled in a randomised, open-label, dose-regimen comparison trial of ZDV. Two oral ZDV dosing regimens: regimen A, 100 mg tid+200 mg nocte (ZDV-A) vs regimen B, 250 mg bid (ZDV-B) were compared. The main outcome measures were: 1. Clinical efficacy: rate of progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or death. 2. Immunologic efficacy: changes in CD4 lymphocyte numbers compared to baseline; rate of decline of CD4 lymphocyte numbers to less than 100/mm3. 3. Toxicity, as defined by clinical symptomatology and laboratory parameters. Two hundred and four patients were enrolled (103 ZDV-A; 101 ZDV-B) of whom 195 were followed beyond baseline. Patients were typical of those encountered with HIV in Thailand: mean age 33 years; 89% male; 88% heterosexual HIV acquisition; mean baseline CD4 lymphocyte count 241/mm3. Follow-up while on therapy was comparable for the two groups (mean+/-SD): 533+/-236 days (ZDV-A) vs 592+/-210 days (ZDV-B). One hundred and eleven patients (57%; 51 ZDV-A; 60 ZDV-B) were treated for at least 22 months (669+/-30 days). Clinical and immunological outcomes for ZDV-A and ZDV-B, including rate of progression to AIDS or death, development of non-AIDS-defining opportunistic infections, mean changes in CD4 lymphocyte numbers/mm3, difference in area under the CD4:time distribution curve and difference in the rate of decline of CD4 lymphocyte numbers to less than 100/mm3, were not significantly different. The presence of oral hairy leukoplakia or unintentional weight loss of 10-20% at enrollment were significantly associated with the later development of AIDS (p=0.03 and 0.04, respectively). ZDV-associated toxicity was similar for both regimens. Maintaining protocol adherence and appropriate clinical follow-up emerged as important practical issues. In Thai adults, ZDV 100 mg tid+200 mg nocte and ZDV 250 mg bid have similar clinical and immunological efficacy. Rates of ZDV toxicity are comparable to those reported in non-Asian populations. Despite limitations in medical care access and maintaining long-term follow-up, successful trials of antiretroviral agents are feasible in South-East Asia and multi-drug treatment trials should be pursued in appropriate institutions.

Oral hairy leukoplakia in a patient with ulcerative colitis

A 30-year-old man with ulcerative colitis developed oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL). Serological examination for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and HIV-2 infection showed no abnormalities. Biopsy specimen of the lateral tongue showed ballooned prickle cells, and electron microscopy revealed herpes-type viruses. Immunologic investigation of the patient showed a marked decrease in T-helper cells as a result of immunosuppressive regimen. The present report appears to be the first well-documented case of OHL in an HIV-negative patient with ulcerative colitis. OHL may be a marker for severe immunosuppression but is not necessarily associated with HIV infection. Patients with iatrogenic immunosuppression should be monitored for OHL. Concerning the marked decrease in T-helper cells in this case, the presence of OHL may imply the examination of T-lymphocyte subsets in patients such as HIV-infected individuals or in organ transplant recipients.