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Hematologic abnormalities in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome
The American Journal of Medicine
|August 1, 1984
Summary
Patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) often exhibit significant blood and bone marrow abnormalities. These findings suggest the bone marrow is a primary target organ in AIDS, impacted by infection and inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with various hematologic complications.
- Understanding bone marrow alterations in AIDS is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spectrum of peripheral blood and bone marrow abnormalities in patients with AIDS.
- To determine if the bone marrow is a target organ in AIDS.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of blood and bone marrow specimens from 12 AIDS patients.
- Analysis of peripheral blood counts, reticulocyte counts, and bone marrow morphology.
Main Results:
- Common findings included anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia.
- Peripheral blood showed left shift, lymphopenia, atypical lymphocytes, and vacuolated monocytes.
- Bone marrow revealed increased cellularity, increased reticulin (myelofibrosis), increased plasma cells, myeloid left shift, increased lymphocytes, and hematophagic histiocytes in some cases. Necrosis was also observed.
Conclusions:
- Hematologic abnormalities in AIDS patients reflect systemic infection, inflammation, and inanition.
- The high incidence of myelofibrosis, altered marrow cellularity, pancytopenia, and hematophagic histiocytosis indicates the bone marrow is a target organ in AIDS.