The haematological profile of patients with HIV infection : clinical correlation with the stage of infection

ABSTRACT

Although infection by the human immunodeficiency virus results in a multisystem disorder; blood acts not only as the major medium of transport for the virus; but it provides the milieu of viral replication and becomes a major target of the cytopathic effects of the virus. The full investigation of the pathogenesis of the haematological abnormalities occuring in HIV-infected individuals is outside the scope of the laboratories; but this paper reports a retrospective study of the blood picture of patients admitted with HIV infection to Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) during 1992-93; investigated as far as the author was able and according to clinical indications