Non-specific Clinical or Functional Abnormalites

In patients infected with HIV, respiratory disorders can occur in the absence of identifiable infection or neoplasms. As a cause of these non-specific pulmonary manifestations both Epstein Barr virus and HIV-I have been implicated. Numerous recent advances have been made in our understanding through morphological and functional studies on cell populations recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from patients infected with HIV. Data now suggest a sequence starting with HIV infection of lung cells leading to a specific cytotoxic immune response; hence to local damage within the lung and deterioration in the alveolar capillary barrier.' The sequence of events remains to an extent conjectural. This editorial reviews the evidence for HIV infection in the lung and its possible direct and indirect consequences.