Natural history of HIV infection in Swedish haemophiliacs.
The longitudinal follow-up is described of 36 anti-HIV positive haemophiliacs who had seroconverted in the period 1980-82, and of 41 seronegative controls. Laboratory variables were followed up for a mean duration of 2.5 years (1985-87). Of the 36 seropositive patients, AIDS developed in 3, and generalised persistent lymphadenopathy in 9. The HIV-seropositive patient group had lower CD4:CD8 ratios and CD4 counts but higher CD8 counts than the seronegative group. However, there was no deterioration in the values for the lymphocyte subsets during follow-up. Titration on paired sera showed an increase in anti-HIV titre with time. Testing for the presence of HIV antigen was positive in 5 patients, including 2 who later developed AIDS. We conclude that anti-HIV positive haemophiliacs, though actively immunised, often show no symptoms even as long as 7 yr after seroconversion and that, in certain patients, the immune system may even show signs of improvement.
Berntorp
E
E
Department for Coagulation Disorders, University of Lund, Malmö, Sweden.
Jarevi
G
G
Wedbäck
A
A
Böttiger
B
B
Hansson
B G
BG
Nordenfelt
E
E
Nilsson
I M
IM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D013548:Sweden
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens