title: Clinical and laboratory characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus-infected adolescents: experience from a single medical center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, the proportion of adolescents diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has increased. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of HIV-infected adolescents in southern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 1997 to December 2010, a total of 40 HIV-infected adolescents who sought medical care in a university hospital in southern Taiwan were enrolled in the study. They were classified into three HIV at-risk groups, men who have sex with men (MSM), heterosexuals, and intravenous drug users (IDUs). Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the 40 HIV-infected adolescents was 19 years. The HIV at-risk groups were MSM (22/40, 55%), heterosexuals (7/40, 17.5%), IDUs (5/40, 12.5%), and unknown (6/40, 15%). The initial median CD4 count and log plasma HIV viral load were 318 cells/mm(3) and 4.61, respectively. The seroprevalence of anti-HAV, anti-HBc, anti-HCV antibodies and HBsAg was 5.3%, 26.1%, 13% and 13%, respectively. Among 17 adolescents who had regular follow-ups more than twice, 7 (41.2%) had a concurrent sexually transmitted disease (STD). The most common STD was genital warts (41.2%) followed by syphilis (11.8%). Among 7 patients who received highly active antiretroviral agents (HAART) for more than 12 months, 5 (71.4%) had sustained virologic suppression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSM are the largest risk group in HIV-infected adolescents in southern Taiwan and are characterized by a high prevalence of anogenital warts and low seroprevalence of anti-HAV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuan-Hsien
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tzong-Shiann
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Ching-Fen
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Shih-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-Chien
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Ching-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies