Lack of detection of human immunodeficiency virus in persistently seronegative homosexual men with high or medium risk for infection

Article Abstract:

It is well established that homosexual men and intravenous drug users have a high risk of developing an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes AIDS). There are several different ways to test for HIV infection. The most common method is to test a sample of blood for antibodies to the HIV. If a person has antibodies to the HIV in his or her blood, he or she is said to be HIV-seropositive. Another method is to test for the presence of the virus itself. This can be done by growing patient specimens in culture or by testing patient samples for the presence of viral DNA (the genetic material). In a recent study, 23 percent of the homosexual men who did not have antibodies to HIV in their blood (i.e. were seronegative) had positive viral cultures for HIV or had HIV DNA. This suggests that a person can carry the HIV even though the blood test says that he is seronegative. It has been reported that homosexual men can be infected with HIV for as long as 42 months before they become seropositive. Also, it has been suggested that homosexual men may carry the HIV in a silent form that can only be identified using viral cultures or testing for viral DNA. To investigate this further, 59 homosexual men who were seronegative for the HIV were studied. All of the men reported having unprotected anal intercourse and had many different partners. Blood samples from these men were grown in culture and tested for viral DNA (using a technique called the polymerase chain reaction). When this was done, only one seronegative patient actually had viral DNA. It is concluded that it is very rare to find someone who is HIV virus-positive and seronegative. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Diagnosis, Measurement, Medical examination, HIV infection, HIV infections, Polymerase chain reaction, Gay men, Blood chemical analysis, blood, HIV antibodies, HIV seroprevalence

---

Health insurance and use of medical services by men infected with HIV

Article Abstract:

HIV-positive men with private health insurance appear to be more likely to use outpatient treatment services than men without insurance. The use of outpatient services by 178 HIV-positive men was evaluated. Men with private insurance were significantly more likely than men without insurance to have had an outpatient visit during the previous year. There was no significant difference between men who had managed-care plans and those who had fee-for-service plans. Seventy-three percent of the men had used zidovudine. The type of insurance or lack of insurance did not appear to affect zidovudine use. However, there was a difference in the use of prophylactic treatment for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Those with no insurance were less likely to receive PCP prophylaxis. An additional analysis on the 149 men with private insurance indicated that 21% had avoided using their private insurance for treatment because of fears of loss of confidentiality or loss of insurance.

Health aspects, Care and treatment, Health insurance, HIV patients, Ambulatory medical care, Ambulatory care

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Long-term human immunodeficiency virus infection in asymptomatic homosexual and bisexual men with normal CD4+ lymphocyte counts: immunologic and virologic characteristics
• Abstracts: Human immunodeficiency virus infection in disadvantaged adolescents: findings from the US Job Corps. Seroprevalence rates of human immunodeficiency virus infection at sentinel hospitals in the United States
• Abstracts: High-level viremia in adults and children infected with human immunodeficiency virus: relation to disease stage and CD4+ lymphocyte levels
• Abstracts: Zidovudine (AZT) for treatment of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type I: an evaluation of effectiveness in clinical practice
• Abstracts: Conservative management of anal leiomyosarcoma. Preoperative high-dose leucovorin/5-fluorouracil and radiation therapy for unresectable rectal cancer

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.