Author Description

This is the proceedings of the International Conference on AIDS Associated Syndromes held at Irvine on December 7-8, 1984. The purpose of this conference was to bring together investigators who are actively engaged in AIDS research to present their most recent data with regard to etiological agent(s) of AIDS, immunological characteristics of some of the patients in early stages of AIDS and various therapeutical modalities that are available for the treatment of AIDS, early AIDS (persistent generalized lymphadnopathy) or for those who demonstrate asymptomatic acquired immunodeficiency. In the area of etiological agents, the discussions are presented dealing with the questions of whether HTLV III/LAV alone or with other co-factor(s) like EBV or CMV are responsible for AIDS. What is the relationship of these viruses to Kaposi's sarcoma, since Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS cannot be simply explained on the basis of the underlying immune deficiency? Data are presented for HTLV III/LAV interactions with the T4 molecule on the surface of helper T cells. A paper is presented with epidemiological evidence for AIDS being an African disease which perhaps was brought to the United States and then to Haiti. In the area of persistent generalized lymphadenopathy syndrome, longitudinal immunological studies are presented to determine whether this clinical spectrum is a precursor of full-blown AIDS as defined by surveillance criteria, or a distinct clinical entity. If so, what are the clinical, cellular, and/or serological markers that determine the outcome of this disorder? The third and last area focuses on various modes of treatments of AIDS, persistent generalized lymphadenopathy syndrome and asymptomatic subjects who show in vitro immune deficiency. Some of these agents are cytotoxic and work directly on Kaposi's sarcoma, while others are immunomodulators. A new syndrome of oral viral leukoplakia associated with AIDS is introduced.