Host defense abnormalities as causes of increased susceptibility to infections in children with HIV infection.

Full Abstract

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is followed by an increased susceptibility to a series of opportunistic and common pathogenic organisms that can be viruses, bacteria, fungi or protozoa. This increased susceptibility has been associated with multiple defects underlying the whole spectrum of host defenses. Numerical and functional deficiencies in CD4+ T lymphocytes are the hallmark of progression of the disease. In addition, B cells become affected as evidenced by a spontaneous hyperproduction of immunoglobulins which are, however, dysfunctional, and an impaired production of specific antibodies in response to a variety of antigens. Natural killer cell cytotoxicity is also defective. Both monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils are affected by HIV and exhibit defective chemotactic and bactericidal function as well as defective antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity and certain antifungal activities. These defects may explain the heightened frequency of infections in this population of patients, especially in children. Restoration of them with specific immunotherapeutic agents may decrease the incidence of infections.

Author information

Author/s: Roilides, E (E);

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Editorial; Review

Journal: Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie : international journal of medical microbiology (Zentralbl Bakteriol), published in GERMANY. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1994-Mar; vol 280 (issue 4) : pp 433-8

Dates: Created 1994/09/20; Completed 1994/09/20; Revised 2005/11/16;

PMID: 8061402, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.