Aspects of human immunodeficiency virus infection in Languedoc-Roussillon
Bertrand, A.; Reynes, J.
Bulletin de l'Academie Nationale de Medecine 172(7): 919-925
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-4079 PMID: 3072985 Document Number: 364815
The epidemiologic conditions and clinical characteristics of HIV infections in Languedoc-Roussillon, France, were studied in 355 HIV positive subjects followed at the Infectious Diseases Clinic in Montpellier through January 1988. 67.3% of the 52 AIDS patients were homosexuals and 13.5% were intravenous drug addicts. These rates were very similar to the French national rates of 61.9% for homosexuals and 11.8% for addicts. Among the 303 subjects who were HIV positive but had not developed AIDS, 43.5% were homosexuals and 38.2% were intravenous drug users. 49 of the 123 addicts studied were women, and almost 2/3 of the HIV positive women were addicts. The average age of HIV positive addicts was 25.8 years, significantly lower than the 34.4 years of the homosexuals. 18 women were infected by contact with HIV positive men, 9 of whom were addicts, 3 bisexual, 2 African, 3 with multiple partners, and 1 hemophiliac. 11 men were infected by contact with HIV positive women, 5 of whom were addicts, 4 African, and 2 with multiple partners. 303 of the subjects probably were infected within Languedoc-Roussillon. 100 of the subjects were not employed, of whom 60% were addicts. 38.3% of the homosexuals vs. 9.8% of the addicts had a history of or positive culture for syphilis. 33.3% of the addicts vs. 7.8% of the homosexuals had a history of hepatitis. Ages of the 52 AIDS patients ranged from 23 to 76 and averaged 39.2 years. The HIV positive subjects were 28.7 years on average. Among the notable observations were the increased proportion of intravenous drug users in the recently infected, which has led to a lowering of the average age and an increased proportion of women among patients. The increased representation of heterosexuals among the infected will lead to increased danger of infection for the general population.