Damage to jejunal intrinsic autonomic nerves in HIV infection.
Jejunal biopsies from 11 HIV-infected male homosexuals, without secondary enteropathogen infection, were examined at ultrastructural and light microscope level. Subjects were clinically categorized into four groups: asymptomatic (3), AIDS-related complex (4), persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (1), and AIDS (3). All 11 biopsies, including the three from asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals, showed extensive damage to autonomic nerve fibres in the lamina propria. These findings show that HIV infection damages the enteric autonomic nerves. Since asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals had similar damage, this appears to be an early event in the course of HIV infection.
Griffin
G E
GE
Department of Communicable Diseases, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Miller
A
A
Batman
P
P
Forster
S M
SM
Pinching
A J
AJ
Harris
J R
JR
Mathan
M M
MM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged