AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma complex: evolution of a full-blown lymphologic syndrome.

An hypothesis is presented to explain the link between acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). According to this hypothesis, AIDS involves all four components of the integrated lymphatic system--lymphatics, lymph nodes, lymphocytes, and lymph--and thereby resembles various congenital and acquired lymphologic syndromes characterized by one or more of the following features: lymphostasis, angiogenesis, and fibrosis; depletion of immunocompetent cells and immunosuppression; opportunistic infections; and vascular neoplasms. A better understanding of the steps in the evolution of these processes and their interrelationships to the four components of the lymphatic system should provide insight into the immunopathogenesis of AIDS-KS as well as its detection and treatment.