tretinoin and Leukoplakia--Hairy

Oral hairy leukoplakia is a common, benign, opportunistic EBV infection of the oral cavity of patients with HIV. It is important to differentiate hairy leukoplakia from other, more serious, oral lesions that may have a similar clinical appearance. In some cases, this is best accomplished by biopsy and histologic examination of the tissue. Several treatment options are available for symptomatic hairy leukoplakia lesions, but none prevent the recurrence of the lesion after therapy. Research studies into the pathogenesis and treatment of oral hairy leukoplakia and other HIV-associated and EBV-associated oral lesions are currently being conducted at the Bering Dental Clinic in Houston.

Topics: Antiviral Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; Disease Management; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Herpesvirus 4, Human; HIV Infections; Humans; Leukoplakia, Hairy; Podophyllin; Tretinoin