title: Immunodeficiency in HIV-2 infection: a community study from Guinea-Bissau.
abstract: In a community study in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, 47 HIV-2-seropositive cases and 87 matched controls were evaluated immunologically using immuno-alkaline phosphatase linked to avidin-biotin complex for the assessment of CD4 and CD8 status. HIV-2-seropositive individuals had significantly lower total numbers of CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratios, 38% having a total number of CD4 cells less than or equal to 0.5 x 10(9)/l and 36% having a CD4/CD8 ratio less than or equal to 0.8. Total numbers of CD4 cells less than or equal to 0.5 x 10(9)/l or CD4/CD8 ratio less than or equal to 0.8 were found in 53% of the HIV-2 seropositives compared with 11% among controls [odds ratio (OR) = 7.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.1-17.1]. Lymphadenopathy was significantly more frequent among HIV-2 seropositives than among controls (OR = 3.4; 95% Cl: 1.5-7.6). HIV-2 seropositives with lymphadenopathy had significantly fewer lymphocytes (P = 0.008) and lower total CD4 (P = 0.029) and total CD8 number (P = 0.011) than HIV-2 seropositives without lymphadenopathy. This study indicates that HIV-2 has a significant immunosuppressive effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Lisse
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aaby
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Normark
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kvinesdal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mølbak
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knudsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006169:Guinea-Bissau; D015498:HIV-2; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets