HYPER CD8 LYMPHOCYTOSIS AND INFECTION WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS (HIV) - 5 CASE-REPORTS

A retrospective study on 202 consecutive patients with HIV infection was reviewed. A particular syndrom with blood CD8 lymphocytosis > 1 500/mm3, associated with a diffuse lymphocytic infiltrate histologically proved in the tissue of different organes was present in five patients. Clinical findings were variable, depending on the location of visceral infiltrate by activated, polyclonal lymphocytes of CD8 phenotype: interstitial pneumonia (n = 3), parotid gland enlargement with sicca syndrome (n = 2), pseudo-tumoral splenomegaly (n = 1), peripheral neuropathy (n = 1), superficial generalized lymphadenopathy (n = 5). This syndrom occurred early during HIV infection. All patients had a blood CD4 lymphocyte count > 200/mm3. This disorder is a host immune response, sometimes associated with the presence of some HLA antigens: HLA-DR5 or HLA A1 B8 DR3. Whether this immune response is specific or not, whether outcome of HIV infection depends on hyper CD8 lymphocytosis remains to be proved.