CUTANEOUS MANIFESTATIONS OF HIV-1 INFECTION

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to a chron ic disarmament of the immune system. The process is progressive, havin g different manifestations as the status of the immune system slowly d eteriorates. Some of the most common manifestations of HIV infection a re cutaneous in origin, and they can have infectious, neoplastic, or n oninfectious or non-neoplastic etiologies. A brief history of HIV is g iven, and the most common cutaneous presentations of the virus infecti on of interest to podiatrists are outlined.