title: Prognostic usefulness of the Walter Reed staging classification for HIV infection.
abstract: We evaluated the usefulness of both the Walter Reed (WR) staging classification and the component criteria used in the system in predicting progression to AIDS. The WR classification was applied to a cohort of 431 men who were seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus on entry into a prospective study. The WR classification was of limited usefulness, as only 133 men (31%) could be assigned to a WR stage. Among men who could be WR classified, only individuals in WR stage 5 were found to have a significantly more rapid progression to AIDS. The seropositive cohort was also classified based on initial CD4 cell number. Low CD4 counts (less than 400 cells/mm3) were significantly associated with progression to AIDS, and grouping seropositive men by CD4 number alone provided as much prognostic information as the WR classification. Skin test anergy was also a significant predictor for progression to AIDS, but only in individuals with low CD4 counts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: MacDonell
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chmiel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Wallemark
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Phair
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000209:etiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors