Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)
Cancer Chemotherapy/6. The EORTC Cancer Chemotherapy Annual. Pinedo HM, Chabner BA, eds. New York, Elsevier Science Publishers, p. 272-84, 1984.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/85611196 Muggia FM; Div. of Oncology, Dept. of Medicine, N.Y.U. Medical Center, 530; First Ave., New York, NY 10016
Abstract:
An update of the problem of AIDS in relation to antineoplastic chemotherapy covers the following subjects: delineation of AIDS and related syndromes, immunologic findings and pathogenesis, differential diagnosis of specific clinical presentations, therapy of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), and therapy of other AIDS-related neoplasms. Criteria for diagnosis of AIDS basically rely on the identification of an opportunistic infection or of KS, which is considered to be an opportunistic neoplasm. By far the most common presentation of AIDS is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia; KS is the next most common indicator, and occurs about four times more frequently without opportunistic infection than with it. Defective T-cell function with decrease in T helper cells and a relative or absolute increase in T suppressor cells has been a regular feature of AIDS immune dysfunction. Some consistent findings of B-cell function have also been detected, including elevated immunoglobulins and circulating immune complexes. The most common clinical manifestations of AIDS are fever with interstitial pulmonary findings, oral and gastroenteric symptoms, and nervous systems disturbances. Many treatments have been employed for KS, but response and ultimate survival have been difficult to evaluate due to the short time since most studies began. Chemotherapy, interferons, local radiation therapy, OKT8 antibodies, plasmapheresis, thymic factors, marrow transplantation, interleukin-2, and transfer factor have each been employed in epidemic KS. Malignant lymphomas, predominantly B-cell neoplasms of the Burkitt's type, with extranodal presentations and CNS involvement, have been increasingly reported in association with AIDS; other neoplasms have occasionally been diagnosed. Treatment has been the same as for such neoplasms without the presence of AIDS, but behavior of the diseases in this context has tended to be more aggressive, with less response to treatment. (69 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS/ IMMUNOLOGY Antineoplastic Agents/*THERAPEUTIC USE Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/THERAPEUTIC USE Combined Modality Therapy Diagnosis, Differential Human Immunity, Cellular/DRUG EFFECTS Lymphoma/*DRUG THERAPY Prognosis Sarcoma, Kaposi's/*DRUG THERAPY MONOGRAPH
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
