Autopsy pathology in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. 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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Autopsy pathology in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Am J Pathol. 1983 Sep;112(3):357-82. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/83306040
Reichert CM; O'Leary TJ; Levens DL; Simrell CR; Macher AM

Abstract: The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a devastating new illness which appears to be sexually and parenterally transmissible. AIDS was first described in the male homosexual community; however, the disease has more recently been described among intravenous drug abusers, Haitians, hemophiliacs, and others. The etiologic agent is unknown. AIDS may represent an infection by a previously undescribed organism, a mutant of a known microorganism, or a multifactorial combination of environmental, immunologic, and genetic factors. As a consequence of the disease's seemingly irreversible ablation of the cell-mediated immune system, AIDS victims succumb to a variety of infections and/or unusual neoplasms. In its fully developed form, mortality approaches 100%. At autopsy the gross and microscopic pathology of the syndrome can be divided into three general categories: 1) morphologic manifestations of profound lymphoid depletion; 2) infections, usually with mixed opportunistic pathogens; and 3) unusual neoplasms, most frequently Kaposi's sarcoma or high-grade lymphomas.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/ETIOLOGY/MORTALITY/*PATHOLOGY Adrenal Glands/PATHOLOGY Adult Bone Marrow/PATHOLOGY Child Cytomegalovirus Infections/COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY Female Gastrointestinal System/PATHOLOGY Herpesviridae Infections/COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY Homosexuality Human Liver/PATHOLOGY Lung Diseases/ETIOLOGY/PATHOLOGY Lymph Nodes/PATHOLOGY Middle Age Neurologic Manifestations Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY Retinitis/ETIOLOGY/PATHOLOGY Sarcoma, Kaposi's/COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY Spleen/PATHOLOGY Thymus Gland/PATHOLOGY United States Urogenital System/PATHOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/etiology/mortality/
831230
M83C0014

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

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