5th International AIDS Conference Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:168 (abstract no. A.545)
Alessi E, Muratori S, Zerboni R, Cusini M, Carminati G, Mansi M; 1st Clinic of Dermatology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

OBJECTIVE: To study the natural history of HIV infection.

METHODS: Forty homosexuals, who became seropositive from December 1985 to January 1988, were followed from 11 to 36 months (mean 23 months). The mean time between the last negative and first positive tests was considered to be the time of infection. Clinical, immunological and virological parameters were assessed at enrolment and every 4 months.

RESULTS: Generalized lymphadenopathy developed in 15 patients from 3 to 15 months, hairy leukoplakia in 4 (after 6, 15, 17 and 22 months) and constitutional symptoms in 3 (after 11, 21 and 29 months). The development of constitutional symptoms was accompanied by HIV antigenemia, but symptoms and antigenemia spontaneously regressed in 2 of 3 patients after few months. No statistically significant modification of immunological parameters was observed in about 50% of patients. Only one patient developed profound immunosuppression.

CONCLUSION: Our follow up study demonstrated the variability of the course of HIV infection. None of the laboratory parameters analyzed seemed of value in predicting the disease progression.

890604
A545

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