11th International AIDS Conference Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:26 (abstract no. LB.B.6020)
Beer JZ, Mills DK, Lightfoote MM, Zmudzka BZ, Krell K, Stern RS; Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD. Fax: (301) 594-6775.

OBJECTIVES: To determine (a) ultraviolet radiation (UV) modalities used for treatment of skin conditions in HIV infection, (b) the indications for the use of such modalities, and C) HIV-disease stage of the UV-therapy patients (pts).

METHODS: During 2 two-week periods between late fall 1994 and early spring 1995, data were collected in 46 U.S. dermatology clinics at 18 geographic locations with high prevalence of HIV infection. Basic information was collected on all UV therapy pts., and detailed data were obtained on pts known to the clinic to be HIV+ (HIV+ pts).

RESULTS: 3,716 pts were enrolled of whom 311 (8.4%) were known by the treating center to be HIV+. This included 2,150 (54%) UVB pts, 1,504 (38%) PUVA pts, 208 (5%) UVB + PUVA pts and 123 (3%) pts treated with other UV therapies. We obtained detailed information on greater than 90% of 311 HIV+. More than 80% of HIV+ pts received UVB and only 9% PUVA, with a variety of combination and other therapies accounting for the remaining 11%. For HIV+ pts, UV therapy was used most frequently to treat eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (43%) followed by other HIV-associated pruritic dermatoses (31% incl 5% eczema), and psoriasis (22%). UV therapy was used predominantly in the late stages of HIV disease. However, approx. 12% of pts had CD4+ counts in the 200-500 cells/mm³ range, and 4% had counts greater than 500 cells/mm³.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of known HIV+ pts among those pts who require UV therapy is substantial (8.4%). Probably, the proportion of HIV+ UV therapy pts is even higher considering that the HIV+ status of some pts is unknown to them or to the treatment facility. Our data indicate substantial differences in indications for UV therapy between HIV- and HIV+ pts as well as in the modalities used for these two categories of pts.

960707
LBB6020

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