[Morphology and function of macrophages in AIDS in broncho-alveolar lavages (BAL)]

HIV infects susceptible T-cell and mononuclear phagocyte targets. Unlike the dramatic changes that occur with T-cells during HIV disease, changes in monocyte and macrophage phenotype and function are qualitatively minimal. The aim of the study was to quantitatively analyze the morphology of macrophages in broncho-alveolar lavages in patients without AIDS, with AIDS, with AIDS complicated by Pneumocystis carinii and in carcinoma patients. In patients with AIDS, the nuclei of macrophages demonstrate a higher integrated optical density (2P less than 0.10), are bigger in size (2P less than 0.05) and have less notches (2P less than 0.02).