[Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]

Literature data on etiology, immune disorders, pathological anatomy of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was analysed. AIDS is a low-contagious disease, is most likely caused by retrovirus HTLV-III affecting a subpopulation of T-lymphocytes helpers. The disease develops in a small number of persons with antibodies to the mentioned virus, first of all, in homosexuals, drug addicts using parenteral administration of drugs; in patients with hemophilia. The progress of the disease is relatively slow, but at present the outcome of most AIDS cases is fatal. The main cause of mortality is association of intercurrent infectious diseases (viral, parasitic, fungal, bacterial) on the background of the impaired immunity. The autopsy picture is non-specific. The authors pay attention to the high frequency of Kaposi sarcoma among the patients with AIDS. Besides such diagnostic features as presence of antibodies to HTLV-III retrovirus and the clinical picture one should take into account changes in the lymph nodes, presence of viral particles in their bioptates, a high level of alpha-thymosin, a drastic reduction of T-lymphocytes in blood and especially of T-lymphocytes helpers.