Circulation of HIV antigen in blood according to stage of infection, risk group, age and geographic origin.
Human immunodeficiency virus antigen (HIV-ag) was determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in HIV-antibody (anti-HIV) positive as well as pre-anti-HIV seroconversion sera and the results analysed according to stage of infection, risk group, age and geographic origin. Eleven (19%) of 58 homosexual men tested showed HIV-ag in a serum taken 3-4 months before or one at the time of anti-HIV seroconversion. In another eight (14%) HIV-ag persisted after seroconversion and half of them developed AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC) in contrast to none of the other 50 anti-HIV seroconversions. Two (13%) of 16 haemophiliacs tested had HIV-ag only in the first anti-HIV seropositive sample. HIV-ag was present in 86% (30/35) of Dutch homosexual men with AIDS, in 32% (7/22) of men with ARC and in 17% (24/145) of men with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) or without symptoms. Three percent (2/60) of sera of asymptomatic i.v. drug users from Amsterdam were HIV-ag positive. Ten percent (1 of 10) of sera from Central Africans with 'Slim Disease' were HIV-ag positive. Among infected children from the USA or Europe 89-100% (8/9 and 2/2) of AIDS cases, 67-100% (6/9 and 3/3) of children with ARC and 75% (3/4) of asymptomatic children were HIV-ag positive. The HIV-ag EIA appears to be able to identify HIV infection earlier than the available anti-HIV assays in a significant number of cases. Since persistence of HIV-ag, except possibly in African cases, is strongly associated with clinical deterioration, HIV-ag appears to be a suitable marker for, independent of their clinical status, selecting individuals for antiviral therapy and also for monitoring the efficiency of such therapy.
Virology Department, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
J
J
Goudsmit
D A
DA
Paul
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000097:blood; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders