| Autor: |
A.L. Pozniak, C.R. Swinburn, N.McI. Johnson |
| Rok vydání: |
1985 |
| Předmět: |
|
| Zdroj: |
British Journal of Diseases of the Chest. 79:105-114 |
| ISSN: |
0007-0971 |
| DOI: |
10.1016/0007-0971(85)90019-1 |
| Popis: |
There have been over 100 reported cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the UK (up to the end of November 1984), with an estimated case doubling time of 6 months (Ebbesen et al. 1983). Many more hundreds of cases may be reasonably anticipated within the next few years. At present the rise in the number of new cases is exponential (McEvoy 1984). To date most AIDS patients have presented to the departments of genitourinary medicine in central London which have large homosexual clienteles. More recently cases have begun to be referred or have presented directly to other departments especially those of respiratory medicine. The respiratory physician will be expected to play a prime role as he not only has to diagnose AIDS but also has to give advice on the management of the pneumonic illnesses which are frequent, often fatal and usually of an opportunistic nature. As new cases continue to present, more and more hospitals will meet their first case and have to deal with the problems both clinical and administrative that we have experienced over the last 18 months. We are therefore writing this brief outline giving some practical guidelines which we have developed. Recently a little has become known about the transmission and infectivity of AIDS. A retrovirus, the human T-cell lymphotropic virus III (HTLV-III) initially described in France (Barre-Sinoussi et al. 1983) as lymphadenopathy associated virus (LAV) has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of AIDS.,HTLV-III has been isolated from the blood, lymph nodes, saliva and semen of AIDS patients (Broder & Gallo 1984). The virus has a selective cytopathic effect upon activated OKT4+ (helper/inducer) lymphocytes (Seligmann et al. 1984) thus precipitating the cellular immune deficiency which leads to the breakdown of the normal pulmonary host defence mechanisms. Antibodies to this virus have been detected in serum from AIDS patients (97% positive) (Cheingsong-Popov et al. 1984). In this study no heterosexuals or unselected blood donors had antibody to HTLV-III. |
| Databáze: |
OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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