Lymphadenopathy Syndrome (LAS)

Lymphadenopathy Syndrome (LAS) is a mild form of HIV infection, generally characterized by some of the symptoms in Figure 4.

Lymphadenopathy means "disease of the lymphatic system." The lymphatic system is the human body's second fluid system which contains a clear fluid called lymph (see Figure 3). The lymphatic system aids the blood system by draining fluid out of the body' s tissues. The lymphatic system is not a closed loop like the bloodstream, meaning it does not flow in a circle, and it has no pump like the heart. Nevertheless, lymph flows from smaller vessels into larger lymph ducts in the upper chest. In doing so, lymphatic fluid passes through a series of filtering stations called lymph nodes, or lymph glands. Lymph nodes filter bacteria (one-celled organisms), foreign substances, and dead white blood cells out of the fluid.

The lymphatic system is a vital part of the body's immune system. Lymph nodes store and mature lymphocytes and other white blood cells and also manufacture antibodies. T-cells and macrophages can migrate back and forth between the blood system and the lymphatic system, perhaps exposing newly generating cells to HIV during their formative stages.

Figure 3: The Lymphatic System