[Prospective study of HIV infection in a group of 30 young hemophiliacs]

In order to investigate the progression to AIDS, we studied 39 patients with hemophilia ranging presently in age from 8 to 20 years, who had been positive for HIV antibodies for a mean of 36 months. Every 3 to 6 months a clinical and laboratory examination was performed. The number of patients with AIDS increased from 2 to 6 and 2 patients died from opportunistic infections. The percentage of patients with less than 500 T4 cells increased from 28% to 41%. Increase in serum IgA concentrations above 2.5 gl/l ranged from 23% to 38% of patients. Seven subjects were found to be positive for HIV antigen and 11 of 15 had a loss of p24 antibody. Patients' distribution into two groups according to the results of T4 cells count at the beginning of the study have shown a significant difference on the basis of clinical and biological progression. The present investigation confirms the progression in this population and the importance of some markers.