Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or better known as AIDS, is a terminal, secondary immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by dysfunction of cell-mediated immunity and manifested by opportunistic infections and malignancies.

Causes and Incidence
The cause is thought to be one of several related retroviruses (human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV) that convert viral RNA into a proviral DNA copy, which is incorporated into the DNA of the host cell. The proviral copy then is duplicated with normal cellular genes during each cellular division. HIV is a blood-borne virus and commonly is transmitted through exchange of body fluids during sexual contact, through parenteral exposure or fetal exposure to blood, and through select body fluids from an individual infected with HIV. Infants are at risk of acquiring the HIV during fetal development, delivery, or breast-feeding from an HIV-positive mother.

High-risk behavior for HIV exposure includes unprotected sexual activity and IV drug use with shared needles. Occupational transmission to health care workers is possible through needle sticks or other exposure to HIV-infected blood. Individuals infected with HIV who are asymptomatic are in a carrier state and may transmit the disease without displaying any of the characteristic signs of AIDS.
 

AIDS is a global pandemic, and it is predicted that more than 110 million people worldwide will be infected with HIV by the end of the century. As of 1991 more than 1.1 million people worldwide had died.
 

In the United States the incidence of AIDS has steadily increased from 3.46 per 100,000 population in 1985 to 40.20 per 100,000 population in 1993. Although it is far too early to interpret the reasons, in 1994 the incidence of reported AIDS cases dropped slightly, to 30.07 per 100,000 population. All races and ethnic groups are affected. Currently men far outnumber women as victims of the disease. However, the fastest rise in cases is occurring among minority women. The median age range for all individuals with AIDS is 30 to 39 years.

Disease Process
The current theory holds that as HIV is reproduced, it affects the immune system by infecting the T-helper cell lymphocytes, which usually coexist in a 2:1 ratio with T-suppressor cells. As the viruses replicate, masquerading as helper cells, the number of real helper cells declines, and the T-suppressor cells eventually dominate, leading to immunosuppression and a lowering of the body's prime defense mechanism against intracellular pathogens and the formation of malignant tumors.

Symptoms
AIDS is a chronic, progressive, terminal illness that can be divided into four stages, as defined by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 

Stage I  
An acute, flulike syndrome that develops at the time of initial infection and lasts from days to weeks

Stage II 
An asymptomatic, HIV-positive carrier state that may persist for years

Stage III
Generalized, persistent lymphadenopathy

Stage IV                 
The development of other disease processes, including (1) constitutional disease (weight loss greater than 10% of body weight, persistent diarrhea, fever, malaise, oral thrush); (2) neurologic disease (peripheral neuropathies, paresthesia, myelopathy, dementia); (3) opportunistic infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, or protozoal) and their accompanying clinical features; (4) secondary neoplasms; and (5) other conditions (e.g., endocarditis, interstitial pneumonitis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura)

Potential Complications
The complications are numerous and are associated with the various opportunistic infections or neoplasms, as well as the repetitive nature of the infections. These infections eventually overwhelm the body's compromised immune system, leading to massive infectious invasions in every body system and, eventually, death.

Diagnostic Tests 

Clinical evaluation 
Any of the above manifestations; history of high-risk behavior

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
Screening test for HIV antibody  (may be positive from 0 to 12 months after exposure)

Western blot/ immunofluorescent assay
To confirm reactive seropositive  results obtained by ELISA test 

WBCs/lymphocytes
Depressed

T-cell studies  
Reduced reactivity and function  of T cells; reduced number of T-helper cells, increased number of T-suppressor cells

B-cell studies
Numbers and function normal or  increased

Natural killer (NK) cells
Reduced activity

Complement
Normal or increased

Treatments 

Surgery
Tumor excision of some related neoplasms

Drugs                     
Experimental treatment with various retroviral drugs such as zidovudine (Retrovir; formerly azidothymidine [AZT]); didanosine (Videx; formerly dideoxyinosine [ddI]; and zalcitabine (Hivid; formerly dideoxycytidine [ddC]), using CD4 lymphocyte counts as a treatment guide; prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole tablets to prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP); rifabutin prophylaxis for Mycobacterium avium infection; drugs specific for various opportunistic infections; chemotherapy for carcinomas; prophylactic use of zidovudine following exposure through penetrating injuries is controversial

General               
Measures to improve overall health (e.g., no smoking, balanced nutrition, drug rehabilitation, flu vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine); supportive measures for coping with and adapting to the effects of the disease (e.g., counseling, support groups); instruction in how the disease is spread in order to promote prevention, particularly among high-risk groups; use of universal precautions by health care workers and family members to prevent transmission.