Detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in Saliva of HIV-1-Infected Persons With Oral Hairy Leukoplakia

Objectives: To describe three case reports of Oral Hairy Leukoplakia that appears in HIV naïve patients and on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Methods: We report three HIV patients presenting with white spots on tongue with corrugated surface, no pain and could not be scraped off. The first patient was a 35-year-old woman on ART with CD4 below 200/mm. The second patient was a 23-year-old man on ART with CD4 above 200/mm. The third patient was a 29-year-old ART-naive HIV-infected woman, with CD4 above 200/mm. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect EBC DNA in saliva and the result showed that all patient had EBV positive. Oral Hairy Leukoplakia is caused by opportunistic infection of EBV that commonly appears in HIV patients with CD4 below 200/mm. However, we found 2 cases OHL in HIV patients on ART with CD4 below 200/mm, and in ART-naïve HIV patient with CD4 above 200/mm. It has been proposed that there was a correlation between increased excretion of EBV and progression of HIV-l-induced disease. This case report can verify that excretion of EBV in saliva can be detected both soon after primary HIV-1 infection and after taking ART.
Results: Not applicable
Conclusions: The shedding of EBV in saliva in asymptomatic HIV-l-infected persons with OHL can be detected both in HIV-infected patients on ART and ART-naïve patient, with CD4+ count under and above 200 cell/mm.