SKIN-RESPONSE TO ULTRAVIOLET-B LIGHT IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

Photosensitivity disorders have been reported in human immunodeficienc y virus (HIV)-infected patients, often as the initial manifestation of the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the HIV-infected population demonstrates increased sensitivity to ultravio let B (UVB) radiation. Minimal erythema dose values to UVB (MED-B) of 57 consecutive HIV-infected patients were compared to those of a contr ol group of 57 consecutive patients with skin diseases, who were other wise healthy and had no risk factors for HIV infection. MED-B determin ations were performed in all individuals prior to the initiation of ph ototherapy for treatment of skin disease. None of the patients had a h istory of photosensitivity. Furthermore, the mean levels of the highes t UVB doses received by each group during the treatment courses were c ompared. The mean age of the HIV-infected cohort was 43 years (range 2 6-61 years). The mean MED-B for this group was 82.8+/-3.8 (SEM) mJ/cm( 2). The mean age of the control group was 45 years (range 24-77 years) , and their mean MED-B was 81.0+/-3.8 (SEM) mJ/cm(2). After 12 weeks o f treatment, one HIV-infected patient developed photosensitivity assoc iated with a decreased MED-B value. The mean level of the highest UVB doses received by the HIV-infected group [427.5+/-67.2 (SEM) mJ/cm(2)] was lower than that received by the control group [640.8+/-65.9 (SEM) mJ/cm(2)], since HIV-infected patients received fewer treatments (mea n: 34.7 treatments per patient) than the patients in the control group (mean: 65.6 treatments per patient). These data indicate that the HIV -infected patient population, without history of photosensitivity, doe s not show increased sensitivity to UVB light as determined by MED-B v alues.