Oral Health In Tunisian Patients Living With HIV

Objectives: To assess oral health in Tunisian patients living with HIV.
Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the dental department of F. Bourguiba Teaching Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia. It involved 40 patients, 20+ve (PP) and 20-ve (NP) matched for age and sex. Information related to oral and radiological examination were collected using a clinical sheet. The level of significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: The mean age and the male to female sex ratio of PP and NP were 38.62±10.43, 38.53±11.49 years and 1.6, 1.7, respectively. All PP were under antiretroviral treatment. The mean CD4 levels were 351.50±195.73 c/mm³. Undetectable viral load was recorded in 12 patients (57.1%). In PP, gingivitis (90.47%) and alveolar bone resorptions (57.14%) (p<0.05) were the most commonly seen lesions, followed by leucoplakia (28.57%), candidiasis (23.8%), angular cheilitis and hyperpigmentation (19%). Biopsy was performed in 3 cases to rule out a Kaposi sarcoma. In one case, oral leishmaniasis due to L. infantum revealed a visceral location. Finally, the mean dmft scores were significantly higher in PP than in NP 10.48±8.48 and 7.32±6.15, respectively (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, oral health in patients living with HIV is significantly more altered than those free of HIV infection.