Hierarchical pattern of mucosal candida infections in HIV-seropositive women
Article Abstract:
Opportunistic infections are caused by microorganisms that are not normally infective, but become infective under abnormal physiological states, such as occurs with suppression of the immune system. Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is commonly associated with the development of opportunistic infections. Candida, or yeast, infection is the most frequent opportunistic infection of mucosal tissue among HIV-infected women. Previous studies showed a relation between sites of mucosal Candida infections and severity of immunodeficiency or impaired natural defense mechanisms. This relation was further investigated in 66 HIV-infected women. Immunodeficiency was determined by analysis of various types of lymphocytes, immune cells. When the numbers of CD4 lymphocytes, a type of immune T-cell, dropped to abnormally low levels (less than 200 million per liter of blood), patients were given the antiviral agent zidovudine (AZT) and preventive drug therapy against infection of the lungs by Pneumocystis carinii. In addition, all patients received counseling about HIV infection, its modes of transmission, and early symptoms of opportunistic infections. The results showed no relation between Candida infection of the vaginal mucosa and reduced lymphocyte counts. However, Can da infection of the oropharyngeal mucosa (''oral thrush'') was associated with marked reductions in CD4 lymphocyte numbers. Infection of the esophagus with Candida developed only when CD4 lymphocyte counts dropped to extremely low values (less than 30 million per liter). These results show that Candida infections of the mucosal tissue occur in a hierarchical or stepwise pattern in HIV-infected women. The basis for differing susceptibilities between vaginal, oropharyngeal, and esophageal mucosal surfaces is not known and requires further investigation. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: American Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0002-9343
Year: 1990
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Rectal small cell cancer in an HIV-positive man
Article Abstract:
Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with the development of a wide variety of malignancies. The most common cancer associated with HIV infection is Kaposi's sarcoma. Other types of malignancies associated with HIV infection include cancers of the lymphatic system, bone marrow, mouth, testes, and anus. A case is described of a 43-year-old man with HIV infection who developed small cell cancer of the rectum. The patient, an anoreceptive homosexual male, was admitted with a seven-week history of rectal bleeding, constipation, thin stools, and tenesmus, or spasms of the anal sphincter. He was found to have a painless, rectal mass, and biopsy of the rectal mass indicated it was small cell cancer. The patient was treated with several anticancer agents and radiation therapy, but died from complications of the tumor eight months after his initial diagnosis and therapy. These results and findings from other studies suggest that sexual practice and viral species other than HIV may play a role in the development of anorectal cancer in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: American Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0002-9343
Year: 1990
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