Authors : Lakshmi Agarwal, Lakshmi Agarwal, Rajeev Saxena, Rajeev Saxena, Geetha V, Geetha V, Manmohan Agrawal, Manmohan Agrawal, Rishab Mathur, Rishab Mathur
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijpo.2020.044
Volume : 7
Issue : 2
Year : 2020
Page No : 228-234
Introduction: Lymphadenopathy is frequent in persons with HIV infection, occurring either as one of the
earliest manifestations of infection or as a finding at any time during the course of disease. The evaluation
of lymph node morphology has been one approach to diagnosis and in understanding the nature of the
immune dysfunction in these conditions.
Aim: To identify the various causes of lymphadenitis and evaluate the various morphologic patterns in HIV
positive patients with lymphadenopathy.
Materials and Methods: Total eighty lymph node biopsies were examined. Six lymph nodes were found
to be inadequate. The precise history of the patients which included ESR, fever, opportunistic infection, any
other complaints, CD4+, CD8+ counts were noted. The different histological changes in the lymph nodes
were evaluated. Special stain was used to detect the microorganisms.
Results: Reactive hyperplasia was the most common cause of lymphadenitis. Type B pattern was seen
in most of the patients. The type of pattern correlated with the CD4 counts. Tuberculosis was the most
common opportunistic infection.
Conclusion: Lymph nodes biopsy is a valuable tool in the evaluation of HIV positive patients to identify
the cause of lymphadenopathy.
Keywords: Lymph nodes, Reactive changes, Opportunistic infection, Tuberculosis.