[Special pathologico-anatomical aspects of AIDS--acquired immune deficiency syndrome].

Data from morphologic and immunologic follow-up studies are presented of ten patients with AIDS. The sequence of morphologic lesions in lymph nodes proceeds from an initial marked hyperplasia of T- and B-zones (follicular hyperplasia with plasmacytosis and diffuse paracortical hyperplasia) to paracortical atrophy with reactive reticulo-histiocytic hyperplasia and to a late irregular B-cell hyperplasia with effacement of lymph node structure. These changes are accompanied immunocytological by a polyclonal increase in B-Lymphocytes while T-helper cells (TH) and T-suppressor cells (TS) initially exhibit a normal 2:1 ratio, an inversion of the TH/TS ratio is observed in advanced stages. Inversion occurs at the time when paracortical atrophy becomes evident in lymph nodes. Pathogenetically, persistent virus infections and a self-sustaining disturbance of immune regulatory mechanisms are discussed.