To Define Principles of Therapy of HIV Infection. For the most part, pathogenesis and response to treatment among adolescents seem not to differ dramatically from those of adults. Subtle yet potentially important differences, however, such as the effects of HIV disease or medications on adolescent development, may be overlooked. One preliminary finding suggests that there may be an increased potential for immune reconstitution among adolescents due to the presence of residual thymic tissue. The thymus gland is a necessary component of the immune system.
Research reveals that the thymus becomes much smaller as humans age, beginning in the teenage years.
While traditionally thought not to be active in the adult years, very recent research indicates the presence of some thymus activity even into late adulthood. This would provide a strong argument for treating HIV infected adolescents early, as their prospects for sustaining a strong immune response following treatment would likely be good. While the adult guidelines are called Adult and Adolescent Guidelines , it should be noted that adolescent is intended to refer to those in late puberty who could be considered adults developmentally. The pediatric guidelines break down treatment recommendations for adolescents based on stages of development called Tanner stages, which are a means of determining where along the spectrum of sexual development an adolescent stands, regardless of chronological age. For females, Tanner stages evaluate breast and pubic hair development.