AIDS-related Complex (ARC)

Another phase of HIV infection described clinically but no longer commonly diagnosed in practice, is the condition known as AIDS-related complex (ARC), which is not necessarily preceded by PGL. ARC lacks only the opportunistic infections and neoplasms which define AIDS. ARC patients usually show symptoms of fatigue, weight loss, and night sweats, along with superficial fungal infections of the mouth (oral thrush) and fingernails and toenails (onychomycosis). It is uncommon for HIV infected persons to die at the stage of ARC. The staging of HIV disease progression through the use of CD4 lymphocyte counts has made use of the terms PGL and ARC obsolete.