Saima Qadir, Nadia Naseem, Waqas Sami, Ah Nagi.
Effect of antiretroviral therapy on oral lesions in HIV/AIDS.
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;36(3):387-90.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is given to the HIV/AIDS patients and the frequency of the oral lesions especially oral candidiasis, necrotizing periodontal conditions, Kaposi sarcoma, oral hairy leukoplakia and recurrent oral ulcers has been reported to be decreased after this treatment due to reconstitution of the immune system. This study was designed to determine the effect of antiretroviral therapy on the oral mucosa of HIV/AIDS patients clinically and cytologicaly. A total of 25 patients not taking ART (Non-ART group) and 35 patients taking ART (ART group) were included in this study. Oral lesions were identified according to criteria established by Oral HIV/AIDS Research Alliance. For observing cytological changes oral smears were prepared by scrapping the buccal mucosa. Slides were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin, Papanicolaou, Periodic Acid Schiff’s and Gomori’s methenamine silver stains. Increased frequency of mucositis, oral ulcers, oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL), chronic periodontitis and oral wart was seen in ART group as compared to Non-ART group while oral mucosal pigmentation was significantly higher in ART group (p=0.00). Oral candidiasis was more frequent in Non-ART group as compared to ART group. Increased frequency of fungi, micronuclei and nuclear atypia were seen in Non-ART group as compared to ART group but the results were insignificant. This study highlights that oral lesions especially oral candidiasis are decreased after antiretroviral therapy while some lesions especially oral pigmentation has been significantly increased which may be due to the side effects of this therapy.

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