IMMUNE-COMPLEX DEPOSITION IN THE CHOROID-PLEXUS OF PATIENTS WITH ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

We identified immune complex deposits in the choroid plexus of approxi mately 75% of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who had either normal brains or human immunodeficiency virus encephali tis. Since circulating immune complexes are common in AIDS patients, a nd since local choroid plexus pathology usually was absent, their like ly origin is from the bloodstream. Choroid plexus deposits of immune c omplexes have been implicated in altering the function of this structu re or in enhancing its vulnerability to infection. Therefore, immune c omplex deposition in the choroid plexus of AIDS patients may be respon sible for some of the common alterations in the cerebrospinal fluid an d for the frequency of opportunistic infections in this region.