Tonsillectomy as a co-factor in the development of AIDS.
Hypotheses regarding the factors that predispose individuals to developing AIDS after exposure to HTLV-III/LAV are beginning to emerge. It is suggested here that surgical removal of tonsils in childhood may increase the risk of developing opportunistic infections after infection with this newly discovered retrovirus.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000234:Adenoids / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology; D012306:Risk; D014068:Tonsillectomy