Page 84 - AIDSBK23C

Page 84

CRITERIA FOR AIDS-RELATED COMPLEX

AIDS-related complex (ARC) was a category of HIV infection used early in the AIDS
epidemic before more specific staging criteria were formulated. The term ARC is no longer
widely used. The definition is given here for historical purposes and to allow correlation with
earlier studies. AIDS-related complex is defined as a syndrome in which a person has laboratory
evidence for HIV infection along with PGL, without other causes for immunodeficiency, and has
at least two of the clinical and two of the laboratory findings listed below. Additional clinical
disorders commonly found in patients with ARC include cutaneous and oral fungal infections,
chronic diarrhea, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, nephrotic syndrome, and in children
failure to thrive with chronic and persistent infections. Often, further testing of the immune
system is necessary before other causes of these disorders can be ruled out.

Clinical findings may include:

o
* Intermittent or continuous fever (greater than 38.5 C) not associated with infection
* Unexplained weight loss of > 10% of body weight
* Intermittent or continuous diarrhea (more than 3 stools per day) without an identifiable
pathogen
* Unexplained excessive fatigue producing decreased physical or mental ability
* Intermittent or continuous night sweats without an infection.

Laboratory findings may include:

* Neutropenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, or anemia
* Decreased absolute T-helper cells
* Decreased T-helper/suppressor ratio
* Decreased blastogenesis
* Increased serum immunoglobulin
* Anergy to skin tests.