Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS

Abstract

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a new disease whose cause is unknown but is almost surely caused by a transmissible agent, most likely a virus. The disease is cleary 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, nonblood 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 characteristics. 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.