Immunosuppression in a homosexual man with Kaposi's sarcoma. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1982. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Immunosuppression in a homosexual man with Kaposi's sarcoma.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 1982 May;6(5):870-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/82239976
Rasmussen EO; Cooper KD; Kang K; White CR Jr; Regan DH; Hanifin JM

Abstract: The occurrence of Kaposi's sarcoma in young homosexual men is a recently reported condition. The same individuals are at risk for the development of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and other unusual infections. These associations suggest these persons are somehow immunocompromised. Evidence of current or prior cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is seen in a high percentage of these and other homosexual men. CMV infections are known to induce alterations in the immunoregulatory suppressor and helper T lymphocyte populations. The CMV infection is suspect as the cause of immunosuppression in these individuals. We present a case of Kaposi's sarcoma in a homosexual men with CMV cultured from his urine and semen. He showed a marked increase in his suppressor/cytotoxic cell (OKT8-positive) population, as well as a marked decrease in his helper cell (OKT4-positive) population. Mitogen and antigen studies demonstrated absent or markedly diminished response both in vitro and in vivo. Pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced IgG synthesis appeared normal. This patient, as well as the majority of other reported patients with this disease, manifested the HLA-Dr5 phenotype. The immunosuppression in this patient and possibly other similar men appears to be mediated by abnormalities in the immunoregulatory T lymphocytes.
Keywords: Adult Antibodies, Monoclonal/IMMUNOLOGY Case Report Cytomegalovirus/IMMUNOLOGY Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/IMMUNOLOGY *Homosexuality Human *Immune Tolerance Male Pokeweed Mitogens/IMMUNOLOGY Rectal Neoplasms/*IMMUNOLOGY Sarcoma, Kaposi's/*IMMUNOLOGY Skin Neoplasms/*IMMUNOLOGY T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDadultantibodies,monoclonal/immunologycasereportcytomegalovirus/immunologyhistocompatibilityantigensclassii/immunologyKWDhomosexualityhumanKWDimmunetolerancemalepokeweedmitogens/immunologyrectalneoplasms/KWDimmunologysarcoma,kaposi's/KWDimmunologyskinneoplasms/KWDimmunologyt-lymphocytes/immunologyjournalarticle
821130
M82B0007

Copyright © 1982 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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