Difference between revisions of "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome"

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(Natural History)
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After infection with [[HIV]], the virus quickly replicates in lymphatic tissue and travels through the blood to infect most areas of the body.  The largest consequence of this is the "hijacking" of certain immune cells, especially so-called T-Helper, or CD-4, cells.  Early in the infection, the immune system holds the infection at bay, often causing "Acute Retroviral Syndrome", a flu-like illness.  After approximately 8-10 years of infection, the immune system begins to lose its battle.  This is primarily seen in the loss of numbers of CD4 cells, however the changes are somewhat more complex.  When the CD4 cell level drops low enough, AIDS becomes apparent.
 
After infection with [[HIV]], the virus quickly replicates in lymphatic tissue and travels through the blood to infect most areas of the body.  The largest consequence of this is the "hijacking" of certain immune cells, especially so-called T-Helper, or CD-4, cells.  Early in the infection, the immune system holds the infection at bay, often causing "Acute Retroviral Syndrome", a flu-like illness.  After approximately 8-10 years of infection, the immune system begins to lose its battle.  This is primarily seen in the loss of numbers of CD4 cells, however the changes are somewhat more complex.  When the CD4 cell level drops low enough, AIDS becomes apparent.
  
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== Dissent ==
 
The currently official view is that AIDS is the consequence of infection by [[Human Immunodeficiency Virus]] (HIV), which is spread through contact with body fluids from an infected individual. However, a sizeable number of scientists and other interested people believe that a causative connection between HIV and AIDS has never been proven. Details about these "re-thinkers" and their arguments can be found at several reliable websites: http://aras.ab.ca/index.php, http://www.reviewingaids.org/awiki/index.php/Main_Page, http://rethinkingaids.com.93.seekdotnet.com/. An older website, no longer being updated, has a useful bibliography of books and other writings by rethinkers: http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/
 
The currently official view is that AIDS is the consequence of infection by [[Human Immunodeficiency Virus]] (HIV), which is spread through contact with body fluids from an infected individual. However, a sizeable number of scientists and other interested people believe that a causative connection between HIV and AIDS has never been proven. Details about these "re-thinkers" and their arguments can be found at several reliable websites: http://aras.ab.ca/index.php, http://www.reviewingaids.org/awiki/index.php/Main_Page, http://rethinkingaids.com.93.seekdotnet.com/. An older website, no longer being updated, has a useful bibliography of books and other writings by rethinkers: http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/
  

Revision as of 15:17, April 1, 2007

Currently under major revision

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (usually referred to as AIDS) is a collection of diseases and symptoms caused by long-term infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The illness was first recognized in the early 1980s [1] as gay men presented to their doctors with a rare lung disease called Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). The Centers for Disease Control noticed an increase in the requests for the drugs needed to treat this illness and launched an epidemiologic investigation.

Opportunistic Infections (OIs)

The hallmark of AIDS is the appearance of opportunistic infections, meaning infections with organisms that do not usually cause human disease, unless given the right "opportunity". This opportunity is the reduction in cell-mediated immunity, first seen in patients with certain cancers or on anti-rejection drugs for organ transplantation. These infections include:

  • Pneumocystis jiroveci, previously Pneumocystis carinii
  • Candida albicans (the cause of thrush and vaginal yeast infections)
  • Staphylococcus aureus (primarily causes skin infections)
  • Toxoplasma gondii
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (the primary cause of pneumonia in AIDS patients)
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)
  • Mycobacterium avium complex (atypical mycobacterium)
  • Cryptococcus neoformans (a cause of meningitis)
  • Epstein Barr virus (leads to a type of lymphoma)

Natural History

After infection with HIV, the virus quickly replicates in lymphatic tissue and travels through the blood to infect most areas of the body. The largest consequence of this is the "hijacking" of certain immune cells, especially so-called T-Helper, or CD-4, cells. Early in the infection, the immune system holds the infection at bay, often causing "Acute Retroviral Syndrome", a flu-like illness. After approximately 8-10 years of infection, the immune system begins to lose its battle. This is primarily seen in the loss of numbers of CD4 cells, however the changes are somewhat more complex. When the CD4 cell level drops low enough, AIDS becomes apparent.


Dissent

The currently official view is that AIDS is the consequence of infection by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is spread through contact with body fluids from an infected individual. However, a sizeable number of scientists and other interested people believe that a causative connection between HIV and AIDS has never been proven. Details about these "re-thinkers" and their arguments can be found at several reliable websites: http://aras.ab.ca/index.php, http://www.reviewingaids.org/awiki/index.php/Main_Page, http://rethinkingaids.com.93.seekdotnet.com/. An older website, no longer being updated, has a useful bibliography of books and other writings by rethinkers: http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/

Notes

  1. Pneumocystis pneumonia -- Los Angeles. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1981;30:250-252)
  1. New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 344:1764-1772 June 7, 2001 Number 23