a significant decrease in the incidence of some oral manifestations of AIDS (including OHL and necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis), which was attributed to the use of HAART, whilst the incidence of other HIV-associated oral lesions did not alter significantly. History Oral hairy leukoplakia was discovered by Deborah Greenspan and John S. Greenspan, and in 1985 they identified a connection between it and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Oral hairy leukoplakia was first described by Greenspan et al. in 1984, a few years after the start of the AIDS epidemic. A link with OHL was not initially reported as scientific understanding of HIV/AIDS was just beginning to develop at that time. It was subsequently thought to occur only in HIV-infected, homosexual males, however, this is now known to not always be the case. Research directions It has been suggested that OHL be renamed according to its causative factor as “EBV leucoplakia”. References External links Conditions of the mucous membranes HIV/AIDS Epstein–Barr virus–associated diseases Oral mucosal pathology Tongue disorders