The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): an update

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease which is characterized by a profound defect in cell-mediated immunity leading to opportunistic infections and unusual neoplasms such as Kaposi's sarcoma. It is caused by a retrovirus of the human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus family and has been termed HTLV-III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus. The virus selectively infects the T4 helper/inducer subset of T cells, accounting for the profound defects in immunity noted in AIDS patients. AIDS is transmitted sexually, and by blood and blood products, accounting for its relative confinement to specific risk groups. The disease is now seen worldwide, and as of September 1984, approximately 6,000 cases have been reported in the USA alone. There is no effective treatment for the disease at present, and the mortality of the full-blown syndrome approaches 100%. Hopefully, with the recent isolation of the causative agent of the syndrome, effective therapies and vaccinations will be forthcoming.