Human immunodeficiency virus in women

Article Abstract:

AIDS is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the 10 years since the first case of AIDS was diagnosed in the United States, the demographics of the disease have changed. Although it still predominantly afflicts men, women of reproductive age are the fastest growing segment of the population to be infected with HIV. If the current trend continues, AIDS will become one of the five leading causes of death in young American women by the end of 1991. Very little is known about the natural history of AIDS in women, or the interrelationships between aspects of physiology unique to women and the HIV virus. Similarly, little is known about the factors that affect transmission from mother to fetus. Clinical studies to date have involved men exclusively, although efforts are underway to rectify this situation. Recent studies indicate that the opportunistic infections found in male AIDS patients are, for the most part, the same as those found in female AIDS patients. More needs to be known about the course of AIDS during pregnancy. Pregnancy compromises the immune system in a number of ways, and may render women more susceptible to faster progression of the course of HIV disease to AIDS. The rate of CD4 cell (a type of lymphocyte, or immune system cell infected by the HIV virus) loss is known to be faster in HIV-infected women than in noninfected women and infected men. However, it is not known if accelerated progression of the disease accompanies the increased rate of CD4 cell loss. Little is known about the relation between HIV infection and the transmission of other sexually transmitted diseases in women, but infected women are more susceptible to certain sexually transmitted bacterial infections of the vaginal mucosa than noninfected women. The general lack of knowledge concerning the specifics of AIDS progression in women demonstrates the need for large prospective studies of HIV-infected women to define the natural history of the disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Editorial, Women, Demographic aspects, Women's health, AIDS (Disease)

---

Hepatitis G virus co-infection slows progression from HIV infection to AIDS: the potential role of cytokines

Article Abstract:

The hepatitis G virus appears to stabilize the immune systems of HIV patients in some way, which may explain why patients infected with both viruses stay healthy much longer than other HIV patients. A study of 80 HIV patients found that those infected with both viruses had stable blood levels of T-helper 1 cytokines, which are substances produced by T cells. In the other HIV patients, blood levels of T-helper 1 cytokines decreased over an eight-year period. The hepatitis G virus is also called GB virus C.

Cytokines, Comorbidity, Hepatitis G

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Human immunodeficiency virus infection in women attending an inner-city prenatal clinic: ineffectiveness of targeted screening
• Abstracts: Advantages and disadvantages of special hospitals for patients with HIV infection: a report by the New York City Task Force on Single-Disease Hospitals
• Abstracts: Immediate versus delayed treatment for HIV infection. Treatment for resistant HIV-1 infection. Stopping treatment with antibiotics that prevent Mycobacterium avium complex infection in persons with HIV infection who have responded well to anti-HIV drugs
• Abstracts: Estimating prognosis in HIV-1 infection. Importance of routinely taking drug therapy for HIV-1 infection. Cell count, viral load, and clinical outcome in patients with HIV infection after highly active antiretroviral therapy
• Abstracts: A report of three HIV-infected patients who became acutely ill after stopping their anti-HIV treatment. Patient who became acutely ill after stopping anti-HIV treatment

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.