INCREASED CUTANEOUS TOXICITY TO IONIZING-RADIATION IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

Background There are reports of increased reactions in HIV-1+ patients to ultraviolet light sometimes in association with medication. In add ition, there are also reports of increased morbidity associated with r adiation therapy in HIV-1+ patients. Methods Three HIV-1+ patients dev eloped cutaneous toxic reactions to radiation therapy; two with Kaposi 's sarcoma (KS) and one with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Conclusions Altho ugh the mechanisms which resulted in these reactions are not clear, th ey may be related to depletion of endogenous scavengers and may be acc entuated by the pattern of immune dysregulation present in HIV-1 disea se.