Background: Autoimmune disorders such as vitiligo and alopecia areata have been reported in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Observations: Three HIV-infected men had anetoderma develop early in the course of their HIV infection. In two patients this preceded other features of HIV disease, and in the third it occurred while the helper T-cell count exceeded 200/mm3.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that anetoderma may be an early manifestation of HIV disease, perhaps autoimmune in its pathogenesis.