The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is characterized, in fact, by the progressive loss of the immune defense capacity, which is no longer able to protect the organism from disease.
The clinical manifestations of AIDS are constituted by opportunistic infections (that is caused by viruses, bacteria or pathogenic fungi which, in subjects with an immune response that is not compromised, do not cause any disease) and by some forms of tumors (such as lymphomas), favored from a very serious compromise of the immune system.This degenerative process continues until the patient's death.
The two main types of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) responsible for AIDS are HIV-1, the most common, and HIV-2. These appear, however, to have similar pathological and clinical characteristics.
The immune alteration typical of AIDS is largely due to the selective deficiency of a subpopulation of cells essential to the immune response, called CD4 + T lymphocytes, which are infected by the virus.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure or vaccine to permanently eliminate HIV from the body. However, timely diagnosis and treatment can greatly delay or even prevent the onset of AIDS.
