Abstract
The thymus is thought to play a major role in the immunopathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, particularly in maternal-to- fetal HIV transmission. Characteristic lesions of the HIV-infected thymus include a prominent CD4± CD8± T lymphocyte depletion at the corticomedullary junction, the region of the thymus where immune selection occurs. At least threefold excess early spontaneous abortions were noted in a cohort of 124 HIV-infected pregnant women. In these 13 abortuses a very high rate (54%) of HIV vertical transmission was documented, with the thymus gland particularly affected. It is possible that the thymic insult in HIV-infected fetuses contributes to immune rejection of the fetus, possibly by an imbalance of maternal and fetal T1- and T2-type cytokines, known to be important in HIV disease progression. We propose, therefore, that the early spontaneous abortions occurring in HIV-infected pregnant women are due, at least in part, to abnormal immune forces created by HIV infection of the thymus.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 60-64 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, Supplement |
Volume | 86 |
Issue number | 421 |
State | Published - Aug 2 1997 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health