Comprehensive High-Yield HIV/AIDS Clinical Overview: Pathogenesis, Viral Structure, Infection Stages, CD4 Decline, Opportunistic Infections, GI and CNS Manifestations, Malignancies, Histology, and Antiretroviral Therapy for Immunocompromised Patient Manag

Comprehensive High-Yield HIV/AIDS Clinical Overview: Pathogenesis, Viral Structure, Infection Stages, CD4 Decline, Opportunistic Infections, GI and CNS Manifestations, Malignancies, Histology, and Antiretroviral Therapy for Immunocompromised Patient Management Verified Questions Provided with A+ Graded Rationales LATEST UPDATED 2026 What cells does HIV infect? CD4 T cells, T helper cells, macrophages, dendritic cells - leads to immunosuppression - Pt. more vulnerable to both infection and malignancy attachment = gp ______ fusion = gp _______ attachment = gp 120 attachment to cellular receptors on CD4 fusion = gp 41 promotes fusion of viral envelope with host plasma membrane in HIV p17 HIV membrane antigen What is the HIV core protein? capsid p24 Phases of HIV infection 1. Primary (Acute) infection 2. Chronic asymptomatic (latency) 3. Acquired Immunodeficiency (AIDS) 4. Death Primary (Acute) infection of HIV Mononucleosis/flu like syndrome about 2-4 weeks after exposure - fever, lymphadenopathy, sore throat, rash ***CD4 counts drop significantly here, but will partially recover Can start early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) here Chronic HIV infection 2nd stage of HIV infection, rate of viral replication slow down, and hosts are asymptomatic - Mobile, painless, rubbery lymph nodes - Steady state viremia achieved by 6 months - CD4 T-cells progressively decline for 8-10 years - Increased levels of CD8 CLINICAL LATENCY AIDS CD4 count less than 200 or presence of any AIDS defining condition (opportunistic infection) AIDS when CD4 count drops below 200 - presence of AIDS related infections occur P. jirovecci pneumonia Candiasis Kaposi sarcoma What is the treatment for AIDS? Antiretroviral therapy (ART) - without ART drugs mortality increases as do opportunistic infections EX: 3' azidothymidine - Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor the median survival of patients with advanced HIV infection (CD4 cell count 50 cells/uL) is 12 to 18 months antiretroviral therapy MOA works by ↑ CD4 count and ↓ viral load acute HIV lymphadenitis B cell follicles with serpiginous shapes - wavy and highly activated **Acute non-specific B cell activation seen in Acute HIV infection When are B cell follicles with serpiginous shapes observed? acute HIV lymphadenitis - wavy and highly activated Multicentric Castleman's Disease nonmalignant lymphoproliferative disorder - polyclonal proliferation of B lymphocytes and plasma cells Associated with co-infection of HHV8/KSHV ***LOTS OF PLASMA CELLS At what CD4 count do you see oral candidiasis in AIDS PTs? 200-500 Candidiasis in AIDS Patients [GI manifestations of HIV] oral thrush (200-500) esophagus, lungs, bronchi, respiratory (200) Histology: - pseudohyphae with spores Gro