Abdominal lymphadenopathy detected by ultrasonography in HIV-1 infection: prevalence and significance.
By using abdominal ultrasonography (UlS), deep nodes were detected in 41 of 85 (48%) HIV-1 positive subjects, most of them heroin addicts, but in none of 85 healthy HIV-negative controls. Computerized tomography, performed in 10 cases of lymphadenopathy, invariably confirmed the UlS findings. Prevalence [asymptomatic carriers: 8/15 (53%); PGL patients: 8/18 (44%); ARC: 13/27 (48%); AIDS: 12/25 (48%)], number, size, and site of deep nodes were comparable among the different CDC groups. No correlation was found between abdominal and superficial lymphadenopathy. Median serum concentrations of gammaglobulins (g/dl) and IgG (mg/dl) were higher in patients with than without deep nodes (2.25 vs 1.87 and 2540 vs 1900, respectively) (p < 0.01) as well as in cases with than without superficial nodes (2.15 vs 1.80 and 2340 vs 1941, respectively) (p < 0.05). Abdominal lymphadenopathy occurred during all stages of HIV infection even in asymptomatic carriers: this should be considered in the differential diagnosis of UlS-detected deep nodes. Enlargement of either deep or superficial nodes seems to reflect a state of polyclonal B cell activation.
Department of General Clinical Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Bologna, Italy.
F
F
Cassani
P
P
Costigliola
M
M
Zoli
L
L
Baffoni
N
N
Dentale
E
E
Ricchi
F
F
Chiodo
G
G
Pilati
F B
FB
Bianchi
E
E
Pisi
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015483:HIV Antibodies