The syndrome of unexplained generalized lymphadenopathy in young men in New York City. Is it related to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome?

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Abstract
To establish whether the syndrome of unexplained generalized lymphadenopathy in homosexual men was new and related epidemiologically to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 3139 pathology reports of lymph node biopsies performed at 7 hospitals in New York City [New York, USA] during the years 1977-1981 were reviewed. Patients (329, 10%) were categorized as having unexplained lymph node hyperplasia; a detailed medical record review of 30% of these patients revealed 3, 2, 6, 8 and 16 cases of unexplained generalized lymphadenopathy in the 5 yr studied, respectively. Of these 35 cases, 26 (74%) occurred in males aged 16-44. A record review of 68 additional male patients aged 16-44 yr with unexplained lymph node hyperplasia in 2 of the hospitals showed a similar increase in cases of unexplained generalized lymphadenopathy during the 5 yr period. Of 25 cases in males with known sexual orientation, 21 were homosexual or bisexual. The increase in the syndrome of unexplained generalized lymphadenopathy from 1978-1981 and the characteristics of the population affected are similar to those observed for AIDS.