Disseminated Mycobacterium Avium-intracellulare Infection in Homosexual Men with Acquired Cell-mediated Immunodeficiency: A Histologic and Immunologic Study of Two Cases

Abstract

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infections were found at autopsy in two homosexual men in whom acquired cell-mediated immunodeficiencies and marked decreases in the subpopulation of lymphocytes expressing the T-helper phenotype were well-studied. The histologic manifestations were similar to those found in lepromatous leprosy, also known to be associated with cell-mediated immunodeficiency. Possible correlations between the cellular immunodeficiency in our patients and an increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection as well as the unusual histologic manifestation of the mycobacterial infection are examined.