title: Immunologic aspects of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and male homosexuality.
abstract: The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most common and best characterized disorder of T cells leading to enhanced susceptibility to infection. Current hypotheses hold that infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy virus (HTLV-III/LAV) is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the development of AIDS, and that a variety of cofactors participate in the pathogenesis of the syndrome. This article reviews the immunologic aspects of AIDS and the AIDS-related syndromes, as well as concepts of etiology and pathogenesis. Predisposing factors for this disease in the homosexual or bisexual host are emphasized.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus; D005060:Europe; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000209:etiology; D012306:Risk; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D014481:United States