IMMUNOPATHOGENESIS OF AIDS

Pediatric AIDS is a disease caused by HIV, a retrolentivirus that prim arily destroys the immune system in a global, progressive manner. The host customarily mounts a sustained but only partially effective immun e response. The virus's high replication and mutation rate eventually allows it to overcome human immune defenses, leading to the appearance of opportunistic infections or unusual neoplasms. HIV-induced immunop athology occurs principally in lymph nodes and the circulating CD4 T l ymphocyte.