AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma complex: Evolution of a full-blown lymphologic syndrome

A hypothesis is presented to explain the link between acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). According to this hypothesis, AIDS involves all four components of the integrated lymphatic system-lymphatics, lymph nodes, lymphocytes, and lymph- and thereby resembles various congenital and acquired lymphologic syndromes characterized by one or more of the following features: lymphostasis, angiogenesis, and fibrosis; depletion of immunocompetent cells and immunosuppression; opportunistic infections; and vascular neoplasms. A better understanding of the steps in the evolution of these processes and their interrelationships to the four components of the lymphatic system should provide insight into the immunopathogenesis of AIDS-KS as well as its detection and treatment.