Autopsy findings in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1984. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Autopsy findings in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

JAMA. 1984 Sep 7;252(9):1152-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/84292725
Welch K; Finkbeiner W; Alpers CE; Blumenfeld W; Davis RL; Smuckler EA; Beckstead JH

Abstract: The medical records, premortem biopsy specimens, and autopsy materials from 36 patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reviewed. The majority of the patients were homosexual men. Widely metastatic Kaposi's sarcoma was seen in eight patients, while tumor was confined to the skin in an additional ten. Four patients had high-grade lymphomas. Thirty-five of the 36 patients had at least one opportunistic infection at some point in the course of their illness. Many patients had multiple infectious agents. The most consistent and striking autopsy finding was a severe depletion of lymphoid tissues. Death in the majority (83%) of the patients was attributable to opportunistic infections affecting most commonly the respiratory tract (64%) and meninges (11%). Three patients (9%) died with widely metastatic Kaposi's sarcoma and secondary hemorrhage.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PATHOLOGY Adult Cardiovascular System/PATHOLOGY Central Nervous System/PATHOLOGY Endocrine Glands/PATHOLOGY Gastrointestinal System/PATHOLOGY Human Infant Liver/PATHOLOGY Lung/PATHOLOGY Lymphatic System/PATHOLOGY Male Middle Age Skin/PATHOLOGY Urogenital System/PATHOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/
841230
M84C0096

Copyright © 1984 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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