ANTIBODY SERONEGATIVE HUMAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS TYPE-III (HTLV-III)-INFECTED PATIENTS WITH ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME OR RELATED DISORDERS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 66  (3) , 742-744
Abstract
The human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) is the primary cause of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and related disorders (ARC). Prior studies have reported that nearly all symptomatic patients with AIDS or ARC manifest antibody to HTLV-III. This observation has engendered efforts to screen for HTLV-III, especially prior to blood donation, with assays for antibody to HTLV-III. We report the first two cases, one with AIDS and one with ARC, that are HTLV-III virus positive but antibody negative. Accurate diagnosis of HTLV-III infection in some cases may require direct virus culture or tests for antigen. In addition, lack of HTLV-III antibody may indicate an atypical clinical course of AIDS.