Disseminated superficial porokeratosis in a patient with AIDS

Abstract

We report the case of a 50-year-old male homosexual suffering from AIDS, who developed diffuse annular hyperkeratotic lesions on the arms and legs. Histopathological examination revealed typical features of porokeratosis, which clinically was of the disseminated superficial type. Ultrastructural examination showed a paucity of keratohyalin granules and lamellar bodies. Immunohistochemical studies showed an almost complete absence of Langerhans cells in lesional epidermis. Involucrin and filaggrin expression were altered in areas of cornoid lamella formation, whereas basal keratinocytes in these areas expressed PCNA/cyclin and, to a lesser degree, p53 protein. Porokeratosis may affect immunocompetent patients, but has also been reported in the setting of immunosuppression following organ transplantation. As far as we are aware, the development of porokeratosis during the course of HIV infection has not been reported previously.