Abstract

The pulmonary pathology in 120 autopsies of Venezuelan AIDS patients was reviewed. A detailed histopathologic study of numerous sections of the lung using hematoxylin-eosin
and special stains were done to detect alterations of the pulmonary parenchyma and opportunistic agents. The percentage of microorganisms found was Histoplasmosis  (40,8 %), cytomegalovirus infection (34,7%), bacterial pneumonia (33, 9 %), pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (29, 9%), mycobacterial infections 00,4%), candidiasis (8 ,6%) and cryptococcosis (6,9%). Histological changes in the lungs were related to infectious agents as well as to diffuse alveolar damage, interstitial pneumonitis and foal or diffuse necrotizing pneumonia. Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodkin's lymphomas were also observed in the lung tissue. Differences between opportunistic agents in our series and series described in other countries
seem to be related to socioeconomic and geographic factors. The importance of examining the autopsy pathology in Venezuelan AIDS patients are stressed.