Human immunodeficiency virus-related lymphoid proliferations.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with a range of lymphoid alterations from generalized lymphadenopathy to abnormal lymphoid proliferations and malignant lymphomas. Special characteristics of lymphoid proliferation are seen in the lungs and thymus of children infected with HIV. HIV-related lymphoid proliferations may be associated with other infectious agents including pneumocystis carinii, mycobacteria, rickettsial-like organisms, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8). The histological features of the spectrum of lymphoid proliferations associated with HIV infection are described.