[Differences in detectability of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in tears and blood lymphocytes].
Reported data on the isolation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) from tears are controversial. The purpose of the study was to try to isolate HIV-1 from tears in a large sample of HIV-1-positive patients at different stages of infection. 53 tear samples were obtained from 50 patients. Additionally isolation of HIV-1 from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was attempted. HIV-1 was isolated from none (= 0%) of the 53 tear samples. Isolation from PBL was successful depending on absolute CD4+ lymphocyte count and Walter Reed staging (Walter Reed stage 6: 83%; stage 2 to 5: 11%; p less than 0.0001). Treatment with zidovudine was not related to the frequency of HIV-1 isolation. These results suggest that tears of patients infected with HIV-1 contain low or no quantities of tissue-culture-infectious units of HIV-1. Nosocomial infection with HIV-1 from tears appears to be unlikely. The known precautions for the prevention of spread of viral disease in ophthalmological practice are sufficient and should be strictly followed.
Geier
S A
SA
Augenklinik, Universität München.
Gürtler
L
L
Klauss
V
V
Mueller
A
A
Bader
L
L
Eberle
J
J
Bogner
J J
JJ
Kronawitter
U
U
Goebel
F D
FD
Lund
O E
OE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013666:Tears / Q000382:microbiology*; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D015215:Zidovudine; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase