HIV lymphadenopathy--a histopathological and immunomorphological study of 65 cases

Lymph nodes from 65 HIV-infected persons were studied by morphological and immunomorphological methods. Early stages of HIV lymphadenopathy (follicular hyperplasia without fragmentation or follicular hyperplasia with severe fragmentation) were revealed in 92% of patients with PGL and the most advanced stadium of HIV-related lymphadenopathy (diffuse pattern) in 92% of AIDS patients. Striking B-cell activation and polyclonal proliferation, found in 19 lymph nodes (35% of advanced lymphadenopathy cases--follicular atrophy or diffuse pattern) justified separation of these cases as a particular subgroup of HIV lymphadenopathy.