title: [HIV-1 prevalence in forensic medicine examination of fatalities (Hamburg and Munich 1989)].
abstract: All fatalities investigated at the Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Hamburg and Munich are screened for HIV-1-antibodies. The serological findings of 1,000 consecutive cases in the year 1989 were compared concerning HIV-1-prevalence, riskgroup, age and sex distribution. The prevalence rate of HIV-1-antibodies was 5% in Hamburg and 6% in Munich. The HIV-seropositives were mainly i.v.-drug users and homosexuals dying from unnatural causes. Unexpectedly HIV-infection was also present in two males of advanced age with myocardial infarction. The HIV-1-prevalence rate of all drug related fatalities from 1985-1989 was investigated, too. The cumulated seropositivity in Hamburg was 14% and in Munich 18%. The development was unsteady; continuous monitoring of the HIV-status of drug deaths seems to be a worthful means to evaluate the spread of this disease among the risk group of intravenous drug addicts.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Hamburg.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Püschel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Penning
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence / Q000639:trends*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence
vernacular_title: HIV-1-Prävalenz bei rechtsmedizinisch untersuchten Todesfällen (Hamburg und München 1989).