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Cytomorphometric analysis of exfoliated oral mucosal cells using oral liquid rinse method in HIV seropositive
Jyoti Tahasildar1, K V Yashwanth1, Sahana Srinath1
1Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Context:
Retroviral infection and its treatment induce significant changes in oral epithelium and can infect and affect keratinocytes. The cytomorphometric alterations caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on oral epithelium in patients with and without highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) can establish the relation with treatment regimen.
Aim:
To assess and compare cytomorphometric changes in exfoliated oral epithelial cells with respect to their cytoplasmic area (CA), nuclear area (NA) and nuclear-cytoplasmic area ratio (NA: CA) in HIV seropositive subjects without HAART, with short-term HAART and long-term HAART.
Settings And Design:
This cross-sectional study included 120 participants. They were selected by a purposive sampling technique as per selection criteria and categorised into four groups of thirty each (untreated seropositives, short-term HAART, long-term HAART, and control groups).
Methods:
Oral liquid rinse samples were collected, centrifuged, and stained (H and E and PAP stains). Morphometric measurements were taken for 50 cells per sample using specialised software, assessed and analysed.
Statistical Analysis:
SPSS V23 (IBM) was used. One-way analysis of variance was performed to compare groups, while Tukey's multiple post hoc procedures were applied for pairwise comparisons.
Result:
CA: Control > Long-term HAART > Short-term HAART > Untreated. NA: Untreated > Short-term HAART > Long-term HAART > Control and NA: CA: Highest in untreated, lowest in controls. Cellular changes persisted despite HAART, though improvements were noted over time.
Conclusion:
HIV infection causes significant oral epithelial alterations. HAART reduces these changes but does not restore baseline values, indicating a persistent impact of HIV. Monitoring oral cytomorphometry may aid in tracking disease progression and therapy effectiveness.
