[Morphologic characteristics of epidermal cells in HIV infection]

Skin biopsies at the plaque regions and adjacent skin obtained from HIV-infected 22-40-year-old patients with Kaposi's sarcoma have been analyzed. Morphological changes revealed depended on the stage of the disease and cell specificity. The alterations were as follows: cell adenoma with degeneration and destruction of cell organelles, changes of the specific granules and microfilaments. Langerhans cells appeared to be most susceptible to HIV and showed all types of changes. In the course of the disease gradual decrease of the activity of the main metabolic enzyme - adenylate cyclase - was recorded.