Plantar verrucae in patients with human immunodeficiency virus. Clinical presentation and treatment response.

Several previous studies have yielded data showing that plantar and other cutaneous verrucae follow a more aggressive course in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than in uninfected individuals. A pilot study was undertaken to identify trends in a sample population that would support this characterization of plantar verrucae in HIV+ patients and to determine whether there are differences in treatment response between HIV+ and HIV- patients. The results show that the HIV+ patients in the study presented with a significantly greater number and total area of lesions than did the HIV- patients. Furthermore, the HIV+ patients experienced a greater frequency of recurrence of their lesions following treatment with surgical curettage. These findings should provide the foundation for other extensive, multicenter studies to further characterize the treatment response of these lesions in HIV+ patients and to develop effective guidelines for their management.