title: The spectrum of HIV infection: what happens clinically.
abstract: When a person contracts HIV, the initial acute infection is followed by a prolonged asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic period; lab values may be completely normal. By the time AIDS is diagnosed, the cell-mediated immune system is irreversibly damaged; virtually all patients die within 5 years. The pace of progression of HIV disease varies widely among patients and is therefore difficult to predict for any one individual.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Spechko
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans