[Generalized persistent lymphadenopathy syndrome in parenteral drug addicts. Lymph node biopsy study of 41 patients]

Of a total of 41 VIH positive patients, parenteral drug addicts, with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy syndrome, we performed 43 lymph-node biopsies. In two sequential biopsies, 2 and 12 months respectively after the first biopsy, were carried-out. After a clinical follow-up (ranging between 4-28 months) 12 patients (24.3%) were qualified as SIDA cases according to CDC-1987 criteria. Lymph-node biopsy was of diagnostic or prognostic value in 16.27% and in 6.97% respectively. Upon comparing histological types and peripheral lymphocyte subsets it was demonstrated how the forms of major morphological deterioration tend to associate with a lower number of OKT4+ lymphocytes and a lower relation OKT4+/OKT8+.