[HIV-infection and its implications on allergic diseases]. / Infección por VIH y sus implicaciones en enfermedades alérgicas.

INTRODUCTION: In 1980 AIDS appeared in the USA in the homosexual community. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VIRUS: A particle of HIV is formed by two identical RNA chains that are packed within a center of viral proteins, and surrounded by a double layer of fosfolipids derived from the cellular membrane of the host. CLINICAL SYMPTOMS: It starts with a severe infection, evolving in a progressive chronic infection reaching a final phase with a T CD4+ cellular count under 200 cells per mm3, with incident infections, neoplasias, consumption syndrome, renal dysfunction, and degeneration of the central system. CONSEQUENCES IN ALLERGIC REACTION: Reactions to the use of drugs are the most frequent form of hypersensitivity caused by HIV compared to the general population. In this condition, a profile of TH2 cytocines are produced and they induce the synthesis of IgE against the drugs. IgE levels have been related to the progression of this condition. CONCLUSION: The increase of IgE is a risk factor to allergic reactions against these medications, as well as a severity index.

[Remodeling in asthma: review of the literature]. / La remodelación en el asma: revisión de la literatura.

Remodeling, understood as a new or different reconstruction, has been observed in every organ after a chronic inflammatory response. In allergy, it has very important clinical consequences. As an example, in asthma this process is responsible for functional deterioration. In this case, the myofibroblasts play a central role in the process, together with a succession of products that are involved. In this bibliographic review we analyze the most important factors.

[Common variable immunodeficiency. Report of 2 cases]. / Inmunodeficiencia común variable. Reporte de dos casos.

We report two cases with common variable immunodeficiency. Both of them had gammaglobulin concentration lower than 300 mg/dL and evolved differently. The first one had three pneumonic episodes that responded satisfactorily to antibiotics. Today, this patient presents only two or three sinusitis clinical schemes per year, and has a good response to treatment. The second one has a bad evolution and presents hematological problems like thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. She also suffers lymphoid nodular hyperplasia in the intestinal tract and atrophy in the intestinal. These cases illustrate the wide clinical, immunological and genetic variety of the syndrome.