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Impairment of CD4+ cells results in:
1) Lack of production of specific antibodies to soluble protein antigens
2) Decreased capacity to kill virally infected cells
3) Decreased tumor surveillance
4) Increased risk of developing TB and fungal infections and contact allergies
5) Increased risk of developing severe viral infections
6) High incidence of cancer
Course Of Infection
During the early period after primary infection there is widespread dissemination of the virus and a sharp decrease in the number of CD4 T cells in peripheral blood. An immune response to HIV ensues with a decrease in detectable viremia followed by a prolonged period of clinical latency. Without treatment, the CD4 T-cell count continues to decrease until it reaches a critical level below which there is a substantial risk of opportunistic diseases.
Oral Signs & Symptoms
Important oral signs and symptoms are: candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia, severe periodontal disease, acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, severe forms of stomatitis and herpetic infections, Karposi’s sarcoma and other cancers such as squamous cells carcinoma and lymphomas.
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