title: NIH conference. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: epidemiologic, clinical, immunologic, and therapeutic considerations.
abstract: The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a new disease whose cause is unknown but is almost surely due to a transmissible agent, most likely a virus. The disease is clearly spread by sexual contact, particularly homosexual activity. Blood-borne transmission constitutes the other major recognized form of spread of the disease, although it is highly likely that the disease is not readily spread through casual, nonsexual, non-blood-borne routes. Although the disease is still highly concentrated in the United States, it is now seen in several countries throughout the world. The common denominator of the disease is a profound suppression of cell-mediated immunity, specifically a quantitative and qualitative defect in the T4 inducer or helper subset of T lymphocytes. Hyperactivity of B lymphocytes is also characteristic. The clinical manifestations are those of severe and life-threatening opportunistic infections and unusual neoplasms, particularly Kaposi's sarcoma. The mortality may well approach 100%, making this one of the most extraordinary transmissible diseases in history.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology; D012306:Risk; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology