title: Autopsy pathology in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
abstract: The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a devastating new illness which appears to be sexually and parenterally transmissible. AIDS was first described in the male homosexual community; however, the disease has more recently been described among intravenous drug abusers, Haitians, hemophiliacs, and others. The etiologic agent is unknown. AIDS may represent an infection by a previously undescribed organism, a mutant of a known microorganism, or a multifactorial combination of environmental, immunologic, and genetic factors. As a consequence of the disease's seemingly irreversible ablation of the cell-mediated immune system, AIDS victims succumb to a variety of infections and/or unusual neoplasms. In its fully developed form, mortality approaches 100%. At autopsy the gross and microscopic pathology of the syndrome can be divided into three general categories: 1) morphologic manifestations of profound lymphoid depletion; 2) infections, usually with mixed opportunistic pathogens; and 3) unusual neoplasms, most frequently Kaposi's sarcoma or high-grade lymphomas.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009461:Neurologic Manifestations; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D012173:Retinitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology; D014481:United States; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000473:pathology