Medical Response to AIDS Epidemic

To the Editor: In June and July 1981 the unprecedented occurrence of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, other opportunistic infections, and Kaposi's sarcoma was first recognized in young, previously healthy homosexual men.1–3 Within the short span of two years, over 2200 cases representing a similar spectrum of disease referred to as the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been identified in homosexual or bisexual men, intravenousdrug abusers, patients with hemophilia, and other groups. However, shortly after the recognition of this epidemic, the scientific community was strongly criticized for not devoting more time and elfort to the study of this devastating disease.^4,5 Although such.