[AIDS: the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a disease of major medical, epidemiological, psychological and social importance. Its aetiological agent is one of the retroviruses that attacks the individual's immune system and destroys its ability to combat other diseases. The available virological data make it clear that the disease mainly attacks risk categories such as homosexuals, drug addicts, people receiving repeated blood transfusions, haemophiliacs as well as the sexual partners and children of these groups. Blood tests for AIDS diagnosis via the identification of the anti-HTLV-III antibody were performed and the ELISA method was used to test samples from the following groups: blood donors, outpatients and drug addicts. A high incidence of positivity was found among the drug addicts.