Lymphadenopathies in homosexual men. Relationships with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome
H. L. Ioachim, C. W. Lerner and M. L. Tapper
Generalized, persistent lymphadenopathies were observed in homosexual men
and considered a possible prodrome of acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS). To evaluate these lymphadenopathies, 25 lymph node biopsy specimens
from homosexual men with lymphadenopathy (18), lymphadenopathy associated
with AIDS (five), and lymphadenopathy associated with non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma (two) were reviewed and correlated with the clinical symptoms. In
the absence of opportunistic infections, the lymph node lesions were
essentially uniform and represented acute inflammatory processes resembling
those commonly seen in viral lymphadenitides. This suggests that a
lymphotropic agent, probably a virus, causes AIDS as a result of its
destructive effects on certain populations of lymphoid cells.
