Acquired immune deficiency in Haitians: opportunistic infections in previously healthy Haitian immigrants. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1983. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Acquired immune deficiency in Haitians: opportunistic infections in previously healthy Haitian immigrants.

N Engl J Med. 1983 Jan 20;308(3):125-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/83088785
Vieira J; Frank E; Spira TJ; Landesman SH

Abstract: We describe acquired immune deficiency manifested by opportunistic infections in 10 previously healthy heterosexual Haitian men. The opportunistic pathogens included Toxoplasma gondii (in four patients), Cryptococcus neoformans (in one), Pneumocystis carinii (in four patients), and Candida albicans (in three). Six of the patients also had Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Immunologic studies of three patients showed a decrease in the numbers and activity of helper T cells, with normal or increased populations of suppressor T cells. Serologic markers for previous infections from hepatitis A, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus were detected in several patients. Six of the patients died despite specific antimicrobial therapy. The clinical and immunologic findings in these 10 Haitians are similar to those reported in drug addicts and homosexuals with the acquired immune-deficiency syndrome.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY Adult Candidiasis/EPIDEMIOLOGY Emigration and Immigration Haiti/ETHNOLOGY Human Infection/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Leukocyte Count Male New York City Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/EPIDEMIOLOGY T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/IMMUNOLOGY T-Lymphocytes, Suppressor-Effector/IMMUNOLOGY Toxoplasmosis/EPIDEMIOLOGY Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/EPIDEMIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDepidemiology/immunologyadultcandidiasis/epidemiologyemigrationandimmigrationhaiti/ethnologyhumaninfection/
830430
M8340005

Copyright © 1983 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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