Antibody to human immunodeficiency virus correlates with decreased T helper lymphocytes in asymptomatic individuals

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To examine the relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity and T lymphocyte subsets in a clinically well population, we assayed HIV antibody and analyzed T lymphocyte subsets in 30 people at increased risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who were clinically well. Seventy‐six percent of the HIV‐seropositive individuals had abnormally low numbers of T helper lymphocytes, and HIV seropositivity was strongly correlated with an abnormally low number of T helper cells (p3 vs 915 cells/mm3, p<0.002: and 0.80 vs 1.7. p<0.002. respectively). Because of the strong correlation of HIV seropositivity and abnormally low numbers of T helper lymphocytes in this asymptomatic population, these findings suggest that asymptomatic seropositive individuals should be followed closely for development of AIDS‐related disease and should be considered for future antiviral therapy when it becomes available.