HIV heterosexual transmission to stable sexual partners of HIV-infected Brazilian hemophiliacs
Nicolau, J.E.; Benard, G.; Fonseca, L.A.; Casseb, J.S.; Sato, M.N.; Cianga, M.; Tanji, M.M.; Lorenzi, T.F.; Duarte, A.J.
Sao Paulo Medical Journal 114(3): 1186-1189
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 1516-3180 PMID: 9181751 DOI: 10.1590/s1516-31801996000300008Document Number: 306967
In Brazil, hemophiliacs who received coagulation factor concentrates during 1980-85 have rates of HIV exceeding 50% and rates of heterosexual transmission to their partners in the range of 10-20%. This study investigated the clinical course of HIV infection in 19 male patients from a hematology center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with hemophilia A or B and their stable, asymptomatic female sexual partners. The mean duration of the relationship was 7.4 years. Compared with 15 normal adult subjects used as controls, CD8+ cell counts of hemophiliacs were significantly higher while CD4+ cell values were significantly reduced. Three sexual partners (15.8%) were HIV-positive, implying a transmission rate of 2.1 per 100 person-years. All female partners were in Centers for Disease Control Class II. Their male partners were in Classes II and III and had normal CD4+ and CD8+ levels. Neither males nor females had p24 antigenemia. Fragments of HIV particles were present in several HIV-negative female partners. These findings suggests early HIV transmission, when the transmitter has high levels of viremia, to stable female partners of hemophiliacs.