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HIV INFECTION IN SERONEGATIVE GAY MEN.

In the first weeks of infection with HIV, detectable antibodies may not be present; thus, standard blood testing would be negative even though a patient was infected.

In a disturbing new report, Imagawa and colleagues followed 133 seronegative homosexual men who continued to engage in high-risk sexual behavior; the investigators found that 27 subjects remained seronegative for antibodies to HIV for up to 36 months after a sensitive technique (polymerase chain reaction) revealed that they were infected with HIV. It is assumed (without solid proof) that such a prolonged period of latent seronegative infection would be much less likely in patients whose blood is directly infected through sharing needles or receiving contaminated blood products. It remains to be seen whether other investigators studying other groups of homosexual men also find a long period of latent seronegative infection. Finally, this report does not address a critical question: are patients with prolonged, latent seronegative infection infectious?

— ALK

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine June 9, 1989

Citation(s):

Haseltine WA. Silent HIV infections. N Engl J Med 1989 Jun 1 320 1487-1489.

• Medline abstract (Free)

Imagawa DT et al. Human immunodeficiency virus type I infection in homosexual men who remain seronegative for prolonged periods. N Engl J Med 1989 Jun 1 320 1458-1462.

• Medline abstract (Free)