       Document 3058
 DOCN  M94A3058
 TI    Heterosexual transmission of HIV in Rio de Janeiro: immunological
       aspects.
 DT    9412
 AU    Morgado M; Guimaraes MD; Neves Junior I; Castilho E; Department of
       Immunology (IOC-FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):163 (abstract no. PB0077). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369517
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate immunological aspects among female partners (FP)
       of HIV infected male index cases (IC) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
       METHODS: ICs and their FPs were recruited from participant centers in
       Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They should be sexually active within the past
       year and female partners should not have other risk factor for HIV.
       Couples were interviewed for risk factors and had blood collected for
       exams: HIV(ELISA & WB); CD4, CD8, CD2 and CD19 phenotyping (Flow
       Cytometry) and immunoglobulins determinations (IgA, IgG, IgM). Analysis
       included: student's t-test, Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% confidence limits.
       RESULTS: As of Dec 1993, 340 couples had been recruited, with 48% of the
       FP HIV positive. Among the ELISA seronegative women, 5(2.8%) showed
       positive reaction to gp 120-160 and/or gp 41 envelope proteins in the WB
       test. Indeterminate WB with positive reaction to p24(6.3%), p55/51
       and/or p66(2.3%) and p17(1.7%) were also observed. Follow-up of these
       women, as well as those with negative ELISA and WB, are under evaluation
       in order to assess seroconvertion rate. No difference in mean value of B
       lymphocytes (CD19+) was verified among HIV positive or negative women (p
       = .202). However, mean concentration of IgG, IgM and IgA were
       significantly higher among positive as compared to negative women (p
       values of .000, .001 and .013, respectively). No significant association
       with HIV infection among the FP was observed when comparing CD4+ cell
       count (< 200 vs 500+/mm3) or CD4+/CD8+ ratio (< .8 vs > or = .8) (OR =
       .92, 95% CI = .48-1.77 and OR = 1.43, 95% CI = .84-2.45, respectively).
       Nevertheless, among concordant positive couples, mean values of CD4+
       absolute cell count and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were lower among the ICs as
       compared to their FPs (CD4+ = 297 and 473mm3/; CD4+/CD8+ ratio = .53 and
       1.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Considering that positivity to env
       proteins are highly predictive for seroconvertion, the sensibility of
       the ELISA test was only 96.9% for this high risk group; 2. Lower levels
       of CD4+ cell count and CD+/CD8+ ratio among the index cases indicate
       early infection in the male group; 3. The lack of association between
       CD4+ absolute count or CD4+/CD8+ ratio and HIV infection among the women
       will be further investigated in this population.
 DE    AIDS Serodiagnosis  Biological Markers/*BLOOD  Brazil  *Developing
       Countries  Female  Human  HIV Antibodies/BLOOD  HIV Antigens/IMMUNOLOGY
       HIV Infections/*IMMUNOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  HIV Seronegativity/IMMUNOLOGY
       HIV Seropositivity/IMMUNOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Immunoglobulins/BLOOD
       Leukocyte Count  Male  Risk Factors  Sex Behavior  *Sexual Partners
       T-Lymphocyte Subsets/IMMUNOLOGY  *Urban Population  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

