Occult thyroid pathology in a child with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Case report and review of the drug-related pathology in pediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A 11-year-old boy with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AaS), Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection and long-term antiviral treatment suffered from a disorder of contractility of the left ventricle of the heart. Following severe unmanageable vomiting, the patient died and the postmortem examination showed marked involution of the lymphatic system, multiple foci of fibrosis of both ventricles of the heart, and regressive changes of the thyroid gland. Biochemical values of the thyroid gland function were, however, not altered. Neither human immunodeficiency virus-related p24 antigen, nor VZV DNA sequences were found in the thyroid gland. Regressive changes of the thyroid gland can probably occur before its function fails. By analyzing the possible etiologies, the endocrine toxicity of a long-term antiviral treatment should be taken into account.