Abstract: Objective To investigate skin and mucosa manifestations as clinical markers of underlying status in HIV infection by assessment of skin diseases,and neusurement CD₄⁺ lymphocyte count and CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺ ratio.Methods Retrospective studies were performed,in 539 inpatients and outpatients in Beijing Youan Hospital from May 2001 to April 2006.CD₄⁺ lymphocyte count and CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺ ratio were measured by flowcytometry in 189 asymptomatic HIV patients and 350 HIV patients with various skin manifestations respectively.The prevalence of skin disease in HIV infection and its relationship to the degree of immuno-suppression were studied as well.Results Average CD₄⁺ T cell count and CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺ ratio in symptomatic HIV-infected individuals(153.04/μL and 0.2024 respectively) were significantly lower than that of HIV-infected asymptomatic individuals(281.97/μL and 0.3129 respectively)(P<(0.05)).Oral mucosal candidiasis was the commonest skin manifestation in 36% HIV-positive patients.Conclusion There was an inversion ratio between the CD₄⁺ T cell counts and the incidence,severity and the number of skin diseases in the HIV/AIDS patients.Some cutaneous manifestations of HIV carriers can be considered as good clinical markers to predict and assess the underlying immune status in resource-limited countries.

Key words: human immunodeficiency virus infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS-related opportunistic infections, skin manifestation, CD₄⁺ T lymphocyte counts