High rates of transmission of subtype E human immunodeficiency virus type 1 among heterosexual couples in Northern Thailand: role of sexually transmitted diseases and immune compromise.
The heterosexual transmission of subtype E human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection was evaluated in 467 couples in Thailand in whom the man was HIV-1 positive and the woman had no risk factors for HIV other than sex with her infected partner. At baseline, 216 (46.3%) of the 467 women were positive for HIV-1; prevalence of HIV among women was 52.2% when their male partners had CD4+ lymphocyte counts of <200 cells/microL, 45.9% in women whose partners had counts of 200-499 micro/L, and 39.2% in women whose partners had counts of >/=500/microL. Women were twice as likely to be HIV positive if their partners had a history of a sexually transmitted disease (STD); however, their HIV prevalence was 29% among couples who had no STD history. It appears that female partners of men infected with subtype E HIV-1 are at high risk of infection even when the man's CD4+ cell count is relatively high. A high rate of STDs may contribute significantly to this risk [corrected].
Nelson
K E
KE
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. kenelson@jhsph.edu
Rungruengthanakit
K
K
Margolick
J
J
Suriyanon
V
V
Niyomthai
S
S
de Boer
M A
MA
Kawichai
S
S
Robison
V
V
Celentano
D D
DD
Nagachinta
T
T
Duerr
A
A
D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology