Remission of Behçet's disease and keratoconjunctivitis sicca in an HIV-infected patient treated with HAART

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS 2004-02, Vol.15 (2), p.139-140
• Main Authors: CICALINI, S, GIGLI, B, PALMIERI, F, BOUMIS, E, FROIO, N, PETROSILLO, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS/HIV; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Behcet Syndrome - complications; Behcet Syndrome - diagnosis; Behcet Syndrome - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - complications; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - diagnosis; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - pathology; Medical sciences; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 0956-4624; 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1258/095646204322764352

A 34-year-old woman presented with a 10-year history of recurrent oral and genital ulcerations and recurrent episodes of bilateral conjunctivitis associated with HIV infection. A diagnosis of Behçet's disease (BD) in association with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) was made after exclusion of other viral and autoimmune diseases according to the international criteria for BD. This is the first reported case of a combination of BD and KCS in a patient with HIV infection in which a complete resolution was observed as a result of successful highly active antiretroviral therapy. The likelihood that a direct viral effect or HIV-induced autoimmune mechanisms act in the pathogenesis of both BD and KCS in HIV-infected patients is discussed.