Skip to main content
Log in

Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

  • Regular Papers
  • Published:
Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In an autopsied case of a 37-year-old man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), multinucleated giant cell encephalopathy was noted in close proximity to multiple nodules of primary lymphoma of the brain. Some multinucleated giant cells and macrophages contained HTLV-III-like viral particles. Nuclear bridges, thin strands connecting individual nuclei with one another, were observed with both light and electron microscopes within some of the multinucleated giant cells. There were also thin tapering nuclear processes, which were probably part of nuclear bridges. The possibility that the nuclear bridges and processes represent amitotic nuclear division is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anders KH, Guerra WF, Tomiyasu U, Verity MA, Vinters HV (1986) The neuropathology of AIDS. UCLA experience and reviews. Am J Pathol 124:537–558

    Google Scholar 

  2. Armstrong JA, Hope R (1984) Follicular dendritic cells and virus-like particles in AIDS-related lymphadenopathy. Lancet II:370–372

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brynes RK, Chan WC, Spira TJ, Ewing EP, Chandler FW (1983) Value of lymph node biopsy in unexplained lymphadenopathy in homosexual men. JAMA 250:1313–1317

    Google Scholar 

  4. Budka H (1986) Multinucleated giant cells in brain: a hallmark of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 69:253–258

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chambers TJ (1978) Multinucleated giant cell. J Pathol 126:125–148

    Google Scholar 

  6. Epstein LG, Sharer LR, Cho E-S, Myenhofer M, Navia BA, Price RW (1985) HTLV-III/LAV-like retrovirus particles in the brains of patients with AIDS encephalopathy. AIDS Res 1:447–454

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fawcett DW (1986) A textbook of histology, 11th edn. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 43–49

    Google Scholar 

  8. Joshi VV, Oleske JM, Minnefor AB (1984) Pathology of suspected acquired immune deficiency in children: a study of 8 cases. Pediatr Pathol 2:71–87

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kato T, Hirano A, Llena JF, Dembitzer HM (1987) Neuropathology of AIDS in 53 autopsy cases with particular emphasis on microglial nodules and multinucleated giant cells. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 73:287–294

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kleihues P, Lang W, Burger PC, Budka H, Vogt M, Maurer R, Luthy R, Siegenthaler W (1985) Progressive diffuse leukoencephalopathy in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 68:333–339

    Google Scholar 

  11. Koenig S, Gendelman HE, Orenstein JN, Dal Canto MC, Pezeshkpour GH, Yungbluth M, Janotta F, Aksamitt A, Martin MA, Fianci AS (1986) Detection of AIDS virus in macrophages in brain tissue from AIDS patients with encephalopathy. Science 233:1089–1093

    Google Scholar 

  12. Le Tourneau A, Audouin J, Diebold J, Marche C, Tricottet V, Reynes M (1986) LAV-like viral particles in lymph node germinal centers in patients with the persistent lymphadenopathy syndrome and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex: an ultrastructural study of 30 cases. Hum Pathol 17:1047–1053

    Google Scholar 

  13. Levy RM, Bredesen DE, Rosenblum ML (1985) Neurological manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): experience at UCSF and review of the literature. J Neurosurg 62:475–495

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lifson JD, Reyes GR, McGrath MS, Stein BS, Engleman EG (1986) AIDS retrovirus induced cytopathology: giant cell formation and involvement of CD 4 antigen. Science 232:1123–1127

    Google Scholar 

  15. Mirra SS, Spira TJ, Anand R (1986) HTLV-III/LAV infection presenting as a giant cell encephalopathy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 45:331

    Google Scholar 

  16. Navia BA, Cho E-S, Petito CK, Price RW (1986) The AIDS dementia complex. II. Neuropathology. Ann Neurol 19: 525–535

    Google Scholar 

  17. Petito CK, Cho E-S, Lemann W, Navia BA, Price RW (1986) Neuropathology of acquired imunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): an autopsy review. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 46:635–646

    Google Scholar 

  18. Sharer LR, Cho E-S, Epstein LG (1985) Multinucleated giant cells and HTLV-III in AIDS encephalopathy. Hum Pathol 16:760

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sharer LR, Epstein LG, Cho E-S, Joshi VV, Meyenhofer MF, Rankin LF, Petito CK (1986) Pathologic features of AIDS encephalopathy in children: evidence for LAV/HTLV-III infection of brain. Hum Pathol 17:271–284

    Google Scholar 

  20. Snider WD, Simpson DM, Nielsen S, Gold JWM, Metroka CE, Posner JB (1983) Neurological complications of acquired immune deficiency syndrome: analysis of 50 patients. Ann Neurol 14:403–418

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mizusawa, H., Hirano, A., Llena, J.F. et al. Nuclear bridges in multinucleated giant cells associated with primary lymphoma of the brain in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Acta Neuropathol 75, 23–26 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686788

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686788

Key words

Navigation