[The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the elderly]

Three cases of AIDS in patients older than 60 years of age are presented and are characterized by the delay in diagnosis even in the face of suggestive clinical manifestations because of the lack of suspicion leading to fatal short term evolution in all the cases. The importance of HIV infection and its characteristics at this age are discussed. Transfusion is the most frequent method of transmission. The clinical manifestations do not differ from those of other ages with neurological and psychiatric manifestations being significant as a form of presentation. Evolution is usually rapidly progressive. The need to suspect HIV infection is emphasized in elderly patients when presenting typical AIDS pathology or atypical dementia or rapid evolution specially if pertaining to a risk group.