Cutaneous acanthamebiasis: an unusual occurrence in an AIDS patient.

Objective - Several pathogens may occasionally cause cutaneous lesions in A IDS. They are mainly bacteria and fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans, Hi stoplasma capsulatum and Penicillium marneffei. Except for Leishmania, prot ozoa are rarely responsible for cutaneous lesions. Clinical case - We report the case of an HIV+ patient, presenting multiple cutaneous lesions remarkable for three reasons: evolution by successive att acks, extreme painfulness, and association to chronic sinusitis. The diagno stic process which led to the identification of Acanthamoeba, as well as th e differential diagnosis, are described. Clinical lesions and microscopic o bservations are presented. The diagnosis of this pathogen in such circumsta nces remains exceptional. (C) 1999 Editions scientifiques et medicales Else vier SAS.