Granuloma Annulare and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Abstract

CUTANEOUS manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are diverse and include neoplasms, infections, and inflammatory conditions.^1,2 In 1985, Penneys and Hicks³reported the cases of 2 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who presented with a disseminated papular eruption resembling granuloma annulare (GA). Since then, 21 other cases of GA in HIV-infected patients have been reported^4-17in the English-language literature. A report¹⁷raised questions regarding the relation of HIV-associated GA and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Generalized GA has been reported¹³to be more prevalent than localized GA in HIV-infected patients. Because 34 patients with concurrent GA and HIV disease have been seen at our institution in 11 years, we undertook this study to characterize HIV-associated GA by clinical, microscopic, and molecular methods and to investigate the role of EBV infection in the pathogenesis of GA.