Identification of oral candidosis,hairy leukoplakia and recurrent oral ulcers as distinct cases of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome

Abstract

Oral lesions such as candidosis, hairy leukoplakia (HL) and oral ulcers are strikingly absent in the numerous reports of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). To document oral manifestations attributable to immune reconstitution, we conducted a longitudinal follow-up of a cohort of HIV+ individuals starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and completing oral pathology follow-up up to 12 weeks after treatment initiation. HIV-infected patients had oral examinations, CD4+ T-cell count and viral load determinations performed at baseline, and at weeks 4, 8 and 12 after HAART initiation. Among individuals with satisfactory viral response and recovery of ≥50 CD4+ T-cell/µL, eight patients complied with strict IRIS criteria: two developed clinical signs of oral candidosis (OC), two oral ulcers, three HL and one Kaposi's sarcoma. CD4+ T-cell counts at symptom onset suggested no remaining immune suppression. Our findings show that cases of OC, HL and recurrent ulcers can be instances of IRIS.