Opportunistic Infection in Previously Healthy Women

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Abstract
Opportunistic infections and unusual tumors have been reported in an unprecedented outbreak of community-acquired cellular immune deficiency among homosexual and drug-abusing men. Five women with the same syndrome were reported. The women were residents of metropolitan New York City [New York, USA], closely associated with drug abuse either by personal use (4 patients) or close sexual contact with an abuser (1 patient). One patient was bisexual. All 5 patients developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as well as combinations of other opportunistic infections including oral candida, disseminated mycobacteria and ulcerative herpes simplex infections. All patients had marked depression of cellular immune function. Three patients died. The appearance of this syndrome in women has important implications with regard to the epidemiology and etiology of this emerging syndrome.