A retrospective study of viral cultures from peripheral blood in 51 hemophilic, HIV-infected children and adolescents was done. Clinical stage of infection was determined according to the 1987 CDC-classification. Virus isolates were graded into four categories with A: marked, B: moderate, C: weak and D: no syncytium-induction (SI). Mean age at first presentation was 13 years (range: 5-18 years); 46/51 patients were followed for a median of six years (range: 3.5 to 6 years) up to 12/31/1992 or death; 5 patients not seen more than 12 months were regarded as lost to follow-up. Viral cultures were performed in all patients, mostly at several times during follow-up. 8 out of 9 patients with subsequent AIDS had A-isolates at least once during their infection, 6 of them already died. Another two patients without A-isolates died of non-HIV-related diseases. Isolates from 6/29 viral culture positive patients showed a progression in syncytium-induction whereas only 2 had regredient SI of their isolates. The table includes all virus isolates for which patients' clinical data were available for at least two years after isolation. TABULAR DATA, SEE ABSTRACT VOLUME. In conclusion, HIV-1 was isolated in 29/46 HIV-1-infected, hemophilic children and adolescents in clinical stage II/III A or B. Only isolates displaying marked syncytium-induction (A) indicated progression to AIDS or HIV-related death within two years.

*Giant Cells/MICROBIOLOGY *Hemophilia/COMPLICATIONS *HIV Infections/COMPLICATIONS *HIV Infections/MICROBIOLOGY *HIV-1/PATHOGENICITY

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