Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
THE ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Animal Models of Retrovirus Infection and Their Relationship to AIDS. Salzman LA, ed. Orlando, Florida, Academic Press, p. 3-13, 1986.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/87629263 Salzman LA; Sell KW; Office of the Scientific Director, Natl. Inst. of Allergy and; Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD
Abstract:
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has become a prime focus of study, classified by the Public Health Service as the number one infectious disease target because the disease is of enormous, increasing proportions. Its threat to the blood and blood product supply is now under increasing control with the use of commercial detection kits. AIDS affects homosexual and bisexual males, female contacts, hemophiliacs, iv drug users, and pediatric cases usually born of infected parents. To improve diagnostic specificity for a less severe disease state, the term AIDS-related complex (ARC) is used. The diagnosis of ARC requires the presence of two of such clinical conditions as fever greater than 100 F for at least 3 mo, wt loss, lymphadenopathy for at least 3 mo, diarrhea, fatigue, or night sweats, as well as two of such laboratory abnormalities as decreased helper T cell number, altered helper T cell-suppressor T cell ratio, anergy to skin tests, elevated serum globulins, leukothrombocytopenic anemia, or depressed blastogenesis. The designation ARC does not necessarily imply that the patient will progress to AIDS. In the United States, the largest numbers of cases are in five states: New York, 36%; California, 23%; Florida, 7%; New Jersey, 6%; and Texas, 5%. With respect to cities, the largest numbers of cases are in New York City followed by San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and Newark. AIDS is thus recognized as a severe public health problem. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has been very interested in a diagnostic test to remove the threat of AIDS virus transmission through transfusion and blood products. A screening test called ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) has been made widely available by three commercial companies. The test detects, in the blood of exposed persons, antibodies to the virus that is believed to cause AIDS. Researchers in France and in the United States have described the retroviruses LAV and HTLV-III, respectively, and have provided evidence relating these viruses to AIDS. Many research scientists have struggled to define the mechanism used by retrovirus HLTV-III/LAV to produce its profound effect. The virus has a selective affinity for the helper/inducer subset of T lymphocytes defined by the T4 or Leu3 cell surface marker. Treatment of AIDS is being intensively studied. Antiviral agents being tested include alpha-interferon, suramin, ribavirin, and a Swedish drug called forcarnet. These drugs act on different stages of virus replication. (8 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS/ *EPIDEMIOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY/MORTALITY Adult AIDS-Related Complex/*DIAGNOSIS Cytomegalovirus/PATHOGENICITY Diagnosis, Differential Female Herpesvirus 4, Human/PATHOGENICITY Human HIV/PATHOGENICITY Male Middle Age Opportunistic Infections/COMPLICATIONS Risk Simplexvirus/PATHOGENICITY United States MONOGRAPH
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
