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Ocular tissue involvement in HIV infection: Immunological and pathological aspects

  • Ocular HIV Infection
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Abstract

The CNS afflictions in AIDS are myriad and suggest a tropism of HIV to neural tissue. Ocular involvement is a frequent manifestation of the HIV infection, resulting in a high incidence of blindness within this patient population. Ocular lesions include cotton wool spots, presumably from HIV-induced microvasculopathy, retinal hemorrhage in cytomegalovirus retinitis and conjunctival Kaposi's sarcoma. These manifestations have been noted in up to 71% of AIDS patients. In fact, ocular disease is often the presenting symptom in an HIV-infected individual. Despite the high incidence of ocular involvement in AIDS patients, the etiology and pathogenesis of these manifestations are not well understood. The immunosuppressive action of HIV is the most likely primary cause for the development of ocular complications in AIDS. Here we review some of the important immunological and pathological features of AIDS affliction in the eye.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, 19104, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

    Kenneth E. Ugen, Daniel E. McCallus & David B. Weiner

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

    Kenneth E. Ugen, Daniel E. McCallus, Joan M. Von Feldt, William V. Williams & David B. Weiner

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

    Mark I. Greene

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  1. Kenneth E. Ugen
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  2. Daniel E. McCallus
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  3. Joan M. Von Feldt
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  5. Mark I. Greene
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  6. David B. Weiner
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Ugen, K.E., McCallus, D.E., Von Feldt, J.M. et al. Ocular tissue involvement in HIV infection: Immunological and pathological aspects. Immunol Res 11, 141–153 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02918619

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