| Popis: |
In order to examine the character and phases of injury to the nervous system in HIV infection, 207 persons were observed. In 100, antibodies to the virus and to its separate proteins were discovered by immunofermentation analysis (IFA) reaction and by Western blot test. In 67, first phases of acute inflammation asymptomatic of persistent generalized lymphadenopathy were registered; and in 33, other ailments were found. In this group, which consisted of 74 men and 26 women aged 18-45, 91 were citizens of the Community of Independent States (15 of whom had served in the military) and 9 were citizens of other countries (4 had seen military duty). 75% of cases contracted the infection via sexual transmission. The control group comprised 65 seropositive people at the first screening confirmed by IFA but negative or doubtful by Western blot. Clinical laboratory and special psychological investigations were carried out using a 16-factor personality questionnaire and standard personality analysis methods. Generalized lymphadenopathy was found in 78%, hepatomegaly in 69%, chronic infection of the upper respiratory tract 67%, dermatological pathologies 33%, acute infections 32% (syphilis, hepatitis B), splenomegaly 20%, diarrhea and loss of more than 10% of body mass 11%. There was significant decrease of T-helper cells in 82.8%, in the correlation of the quality of T helper cells and T suppressor cells in 72.4%. In 67 persons who were in the second stage of HIV infection, there was a high frequency of pathological psychological symptoms. According to the personality scale, 60% had schizoid signs, 50% had depression, 40% had psychopathy, 30% had psychasthenia, and 20% had paranoia. When 33 persons in the second and third phase of the disease were measured, schizoid signs increased to 85.7%, depression to 78.6%, psychopathy to 57.1%, psychasthenia to 71.4%, and paranoia to 64.3%. In the first phases of the disease mainly hypochondria, depression, and hysteria predominated, and as the disease progressed, psychopathy, paranoia, psychasthenia, schizoid signs, and mania rose. |
