Fatal post-transfusion acquired immunodeficiency in a heterosexual man: quantitative lymph node immunopathology

Employing a novel panel of monoclonal antibodies, we characterized in detail the quantitative immunopathologic alterations of lymph nodes in a 69-year-old heterosexual man who died of acquired immunodeficiency 1.5 years after transfusion of blood products. Absolute decreases were evident in total T cell, helper T cell, cytotoxic T cell, and Leu 8+ cell counts. Suppressor T cells and histiocytes were absolutely increased. There were relative increases in B cells and Leu 7+ cells. B-cell follicles were sparse and exhibited small, burned-out germinal centers composed predominantly of R4/23+ dendritic reticulum cells. These findings closely paralleled those described previously for homosexual men with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). They suggest that AIDS occurring among diverse clinical groups, such as homosexual men and blood donor--recipient pairs, involves similar immunopathologic alterations within lymph node microenvironments.