Current understanding of the relationship between traumatic injuries and the course of human immunodeficiency virus infection

The results of the effect of wounds and injuries on the immune system in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are analyzed and summarized. The main elements of the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection, the mechanisms of immune reactions in various mechanical injuries, and hypotheses about the relationship of these processes are considered. Traumatic injuries and HIV infection may seem to have little in common, but their impact on the immune system substantially unites these pathologies. Injuries cause intense reactive changes in the immune system associated with its activation and subsequent exhaustion, which in turn increases the risk of secondary infectious complications. In turn, HIV infection, in its natural course, dysregulates the immune response, causing immunosuppression that gradually develops into immunodeficiency, which ultimately leads to the development of secondary diseases. Given this similarity, there is an interest in the interactions between these processes when they are combined. Despite this, the relationship between trauma and HIV infection remains understudied, leaving room for scientific exploration. On the one hand, it is logical to assume that these nosologies have a mutually aggravating effect, but on the other hand, a deeper analysis may lead to the construction of theoretical models that suggest the opposite. The proposed theoretical model indicates the importance of classifying HIV infection according to the level of immunodeficiency in determining treatment tactics. If the proposed concept is confirmed in real clinical practice, it may be possible to consider adjusting the criteria for military service for military personnel suffering from HIV infection toward relaxing them.