title: AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma complex: evolution of a full-blown lymphologic syndrome.
abstract: An hypothesis is presented to explain the link between acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). According to this hypothesis, AIDS involves all four components of the integrated lymphatic system--lymphatics, lymph nodes, lymphocytes, and lymph--and thereby resembles various congenital and acquired lymphologic syndromes characterized by one or more of the following features: lymphostasis, angiogenesis, and fibrosis; depletion of immunocompetent cells and immunosuppression; opportunistic infections; and vascular neoplasms. A better understanding of the steps in the evolution of these processes and their interrelationships to the four components of the lymphatic system should provide insight into the immunopathogenesis of AIDS-KS as well as its detection and treatment.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson.
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Witte
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Witte
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology