Cervical lymph nodes biopsies from 31 HIV positive patients
(with or without AIDS) were studied by histologic methods and
immunohistochemistry (StreptABC staining of paraffin sections)
to identify cellular and extracellular matrix components. The
results were the following: (1) the biopsies were included in the
stages of follicular hyperplasia without fragmentation FH-FF (4
cases); follicular hyperplasia with follicular fragmentation
FH+FF (16 cases); follicular involution FI (6 cases) and diffuse
pattern DP (5 cases); (2) the most important alteration was the
germinal centers disruption due to follicle lysis, which began
in the light zone; (3) there was coincidence between
intrafollicular hemorrhages and segmental hyaline
mycroangiopathy; (4) during the progression of the disease
occurred: (a) an increase in the number of mast cells, CD68^+ and
Mac387^+ macrophages; (b) a diffuse augment of collagen III,
elastic fibers, laminin, fibronectin and proteoglycans; (c)
maintenance of Factor VIII - related antigens in the vascular
endothelial cells, with decrease in the expression of Ulex-
Europeus I lectin. Follicular hyperplasia (FH-FF or FH+FF) was
the most common histologic pattern recognized in the lymph nodes
of patients without AIDS and follicular involution and difuse
pattern were seen in those who had AIDS. The results indicate
that the lymph node biopsies may provide important information
about the evolutive stage of the disease and its prognosis.
