1. Hypertrophic genital herpes in an HIV-infected female patient: Imiquimod as an alternative treatment
- Author
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Letícia Goulart Campos, Luisa Cardoso da Silva Campos, Angélica Espinosa Miranda, Franco Luis Salume da Costa, Neide Aparecida Tosato Boldrini, João Victor Jacomele Caldas, Helena Lucia Barroso dos Reis, and Susana Lamara Pedras Almeida
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Microbiology (medical) ,medicine.medical_specialty ,030106 microbiology ,HIV Infections ,Imiquimod ,Malignancy ,medicine.disease_cause ,Antiviral Agents ,lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases ,Vulva ,Lesion ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Biopsy ,medicine ,Humans ,lcsh:RC109-216 ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Ulcer ,Molluscum contagiosum ,Herpes Genitalis ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Coinfection ,business.industry ,Plasmacytosis ,HIV ,Herpes Simplex ,Hypertrophy ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Dermatology ,Infectious Diseases ,Herpes simplex virus ,Female ,Histopathology ,medicine.symptom ,business ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is the leading cause of genital ulcers worldwide. In Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infected individuals, rare hypertrophic pseudo-tumoral forms have been described as simulating squamous cell carcinoma or other viral infections such as those caused by Varicella zoster, Molluscum contagiosum and HPV induced lesions. Here, we report a case of hypertrophic genital herpes in an HIV-infected patient effectively treated with surgery and topical 5% imiquimod after the recurrence of lesions. A 45-year-old woman, HIV-positive for 17 years and on regular antiretroviral therapy, presented with a painful 2 cm vulvar sessile lesion, a 1 cm ulcerated lesion on the clitoral hood, and a slightly elevated lesion in the middle third of the tongue. Excisional biopsy and surgical removal of lesion were performed for histopathological exam. Histopathology of genital lesions showed evidence of chronic lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, intense ulcerated plasmacytosis, and squamous cells displaying HSV cytopathogenic effect. After three months, the patient presented with a new ulcerated perineal lesion. Histopathology showed evidence of chronic ulcerative-vegetative herpetic dermatitis. Consequently, topical 5% imiquimod was administered with successful results. Relapsing character and atypical genital disease evolution with an exophytic pseudotumoral injury have been noted in patients co-infected with HIV and HSV, necessitating anatomopathological recognition for diagnostic confirmation and exclusion of malignancy. Local immunotherapy should be considered as treatment approach.
- Published
- 2020
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