Absence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proviral sequences in seronegative hemophilic men and sexual partners of HIV-seropositive hemophiliacs |
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Authors: | E Bailly ; JP Kleim ; KE Schneweis ; B van Loo; U Hammerstein ; HH Brackmann |
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Institution: | Institute for Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Bonn, Germany. |
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Abstract: | To detect latent infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), specimens of peripheral blood leukocytes from HIV-seronegative hemophiliacs and from sexual partners of HIV-seropositive hemophiliacs were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The primer pair SK 38/39 derived from the gag region and/or the primer pair SK 68/69 corresponding to a conserved region of the env gene were used. Whereas HIV proviral DNA was detected by PCR in samples from 86 (97%) of 89 HIV-seropositive hemophiliacs, no HIV-DNA was found in blood samples of 198 HIV-seronegative hemophiliacs at risk. Of 40 HIV-seronegative sexual partners of HIV-infected hemophiliacs, none was PCR positive. Thus, PCR is proving to be a sensitive method by which to confirm infection in seropositive hemophiliacs, while the negative results in HIV-seronegative hemophiliacs and HIV-seronegative sexual partners of HIV-seropositive hemophiliacs suggest that a prolonged seronegative period of latent HIV infection is the exception. |
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