What Is This Pruritic Rash in a Man With HIV Infection?

Joy Ishii Zarandy, DO, FAAFP, DABFM
Joseph Halliday, DO
Volume 55 - Issue 11 - November 2015

A 51-year-old African American man with HIV presented with a several month history of a severely pruritic rash involving a majority of his body. He had yet to enter care for his HIV infection and was antiretroviral naive.

Physical Examination

The patient appeared cachectic. He was afebrile, with normal vital signs. Multiple firm, pruritic nodules of varying sizes covered the face, trunk, and extremities in a symmetric distribution (Figures 1 and 2). The nodules were excoriated, with central pink scaling and peripheral hyperpigmentation. The rash spared the palms, soles, flexural surfaces, and the mid-back region.

prurigo nodularis

Laboratory Tests

Results of initial laboratory studies included the following values: hemoglobin, 11.0 g/dL; hematocrit, 32.7%; ferritin, 1855 ng/mL; blood urea nitrogen, 25 mg/dL; creatinine, 2.1 mg/dL; aspartate aminotransferase, 65 U/L; and alanine aminotransferase, 42 U/L.

His CD4+ cell count was 4/mm3, with a viral load greater than 1 million copies/mL. The white blood cell count, platelet count, and electrolyte levels were within normal range. Results of a hepatitis panel were negative, and results of rapid plasma reagin test were negative for syphilis. Chest radiography results were normal.

Results of a biopsy of a nodule from his right shoulder revealed hyperkeratosis, nonspecific inflammatory changes, and pigmentary incontinence. Fungal stain test results were negative.

Diagnosis

Infectious disease was consulted, and the diagnosis of prurigo nodularis (PN) was confirmed.

prurigo nodularis

Discussion

PN presents as chronic and severely pruritic nodules that commonly involve the extensor surfaces, extremities, and trunk. Body parts that are difficult for the patient to reach generally are spared, including the upper mid-back (the “butterfly sign,” Figure 3).1 PN usually is associated with a history of atopic dermatitis.2 The absence of a history of atopy should raise concern for systemic disease such as renal or liver failure, malignancy, thyroid disorder, parasitic infection, or HIV infection.3

Approximately 5% of patients with HIV have PN, particularly those with CD4+ cell counts below 200/mm3, and PN may be the presenting symptom of HIV.3,4 In addition to atopic dermatitis, predisposing conditions to PN in patients with HIV infection include eosinophilic dermatitis and xerosis.

Appropriate laboratory workup should be done to rule out systemic disease, and occasionally a skin biopsy is warranted if the diagnosis is uncertain. Histopathology results show orthohyperkeratosis, focal parakeratosis, irregular epidermal hyperplasia, and nonspecific dermal infiltrate such as macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, or eosinophils.5

The pathogenesis is largely unknown, although some studies suggest a neurocutaneous component.6 Emotional stress, heat, sweat, mechanical irritation from clothes, or contact dermatitis can exacerbate symptoms of PN.7

Differential Diagnosis

Cutaneous findings are present in 80% to 90% of patients with HIV/AIDS8; therefore, considering a broad differential diagnosis is prudent. Inflammatory causes of HIV rashes include atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, papular pruritic eruption of HIV, photodermatitis, eosinophilic folliculitis, and drug reaction. Infectious differential diagnoses include syphilis, scabies, hepatitis C virus co-infection, staphylococcal infection, and molluscum contagiosum. Kaposi sarcoma, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma are potential neoplastic causes of skin lesions.9

Management

Topical management includes corticosteroids (particularly those of the superpotent class), capsaicin, vitamin D analogues, or tacrolimus.2 Intralesional corticosteroids and phototherapy often can improve the rash’s appearance.2,10 Systemic therapies such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, or thalidomide also may help control symptoms.2 Tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, and antihistamines have been shown to control pruritus.11 Despite various treatment options, recurrence of PN is common.

Outcome of the Case

The patient was started on a high-potency topical corticosteroid and oral antihistamines, as well as opportunistic infection prophylaxis. Outpatient follow-up was scheduled for the patient to begin antiretroviral therapy.

Joy Ishii Zarandy, DO, is a third year family medicine resident physician at AnMed Health in Anderson, SC.

Joseph Halliday, DO, currently practices at AnMed Health in Anderson, SC, and specializes in infectious disease. 

References:

  1. Rowland Payne CME, Wilkinson JD, McKee PH, Jurecka W, Black MM. Nodular prurigo—a clinicopathological study of 46 patients. Br J Dermatol. 1985;113(4):431-439.
  2. Lee MR, Shumack S. Prurigo nodularis: a review. Australas J Dermatol. 2005;46(4):211-218.
  3. Magand F, Nacher M, Cazorla C, Cambazard F, Marie DS, Couppié P. Predictive values of prurigo nodularis and herpes zoster for HIV infection and immunosuppression requiring HAART in French Guiana. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2011;105(7):401-404.
  4. Zancanaro PCQ, McGirt LY, Mamelak AJ, Nguyen R-H, Martins CR. Cutaneous manifestations of HIV in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy: an institutional urban clinic experience. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54(4):581-588.
  5. Weigelt N, Metze D, Ständer S. Prurigo nodularis: systematic analysis of 58 histological criteria in 136 patients. J Cutan Pathol. 2010;37(5):578-586.
  6. Harris B, Harris K, Penneys NS. Demonstration by S-100 protein staining of increased numbers of nerves in the papillary dermis of patients with prurigo nodularis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1992;26(1):56-58.
  7. Dazzi C, Erma D, Piccinno R, Veraldi S, Caccialanza M. Psychological factors involved in prurigo nodularis: a pilot study. J Dermatolog Treat. 2011;22(4):211-214.
  8. Uthayakumar S, Nandwani R, Drinkwater T, Nayagam AT, Darley CR. The prevalence of skin disease in HIV infection and its relationship to the degree of immunosuppression. Br J Dermatol. 1997;137(4):595-598.
  9. Maurer TA. Dermatologic manifestations of HIV infection. Top HIV Med. 2005 Dec-2006 Jan;13(5):149-154.
  10. Rombold S, Lobisch K, Katzer K, Grazziotin TC, Ring J, Eberlein B. Efficacy of UVA1 phototherapy in 230 patients with various skin diseases. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2008;24(1):19-23.
  11. O’Donoghue M, Tharp MD. Antihistamines and their role as antipruritics. Dermatol Ther. 2005;18(4):333-340.