HIV disease and AIDS in women: current knowledge and a research agenda

The study of the clinical manifestations, progression, and outcome of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in women has begun in earnest. AIDS-defining diseases that are more common in women than in men include wasting syndrome, esophageal candidiasis, and herpes simplex virus disease, whereas Kaposi's sarcoma is rare. Non-AIDS-defining gynecological conditions such as vaginal candida infections and cervical pathology are prevalent among women at all stages of HIV infection. Associations have been documented between the presence of human papillomavirus, lower genital tract neoplasia, and HIV-related immunosuppression. Pregnancy has not been confirmed to have an effect on the clinical progression of HIV disease in women incremental to the effect of time. Differential access and utilization of therapeutic interventions appear to account for much of the reported gender discrepancy in survival. Well designed epidemiological and clinical studies will help further scientific knowledge leading to early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and timely prevention of the manifestations of HIV disease in women.