SUBCLINICAL CROHNS-DISEASE IN ACQUIRED-IM MUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

We report the case of a patient suffering from acquired inmmunodeficie ncy syndrome and hepatitis B and D virus-related cirrhosis of the live r who was diagnosed as subclinical Crohn's disease. We attribute this clinical course to abnormality of intestinal inmmune system induced by the human inmmunodeficiency virus. Concomitant hepatitis B and D viru s infection may have contributed. This observation supports the hypoth esis of helper-inducer T cells (CD4 T cells) having a critical role in the immunopathogenesis of Crohns disease and its clinical expression.