Immunologic profiles of HIV-infected and uninfected commercial sex workers in the Vellore region of Southern India
Babu, P.G.; Pramilabai, A.; Sripriya, G.; Damodharan, S.; John, T.J.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology Official Publication of the International Retrovirology Association 16(5): 357-361
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1077-9450 PMID: 9420314 Document Number: 271444
As part of India's National AIDS Surveillance Program, blood cell counts and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels were compared in 35 asymptomatic HIV-infected commercial sex workers (CSWs), 37 HIV-negative CSWs, and 35 age-matched, healthy, non-CSW controls. Cases and controls were residents of southern India's Vellore region. All CSWs, regardless of HIV status, had had repeated unprotected sex with 3-10 clients per night for a period of 5 or more years and had been treated at least 3 times for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the past 5 years. The frequencies of the most common STDs--genital ulcers, genital warts, syphilis, and gonorrhea--were similar in HIV-negative and HIV-positive CSWs. All CSWs had significantly higher levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM than non-CSW controls, but there were no significant differences in Ig levels between the two groups of CSWs. The only significant difference between HIV-positive and HIV-negative CSWs was in their neutrophil and CD8 counts. When compared to healthy controls, HIV-infected CSWs had significantly lower neutrophil counts and CD4:CD8 ratios and significantly higher eosinophil, lymphocyte, and CD8 cell counts. HIV-negative CSWs had significantly higher eosinophil and lymphocyte counts and lower CD4:CD8 ratios than healthy controls. The abnormal immunologic profile detected in HIV-negative as well as HIV-positive CSWs suggests that stimuli other than HIV infection are responsible for CSWs' hyperimmunoglobulinemia. These findings further highlight the importance of using appropriate controls in immunologic evaluation studies.