[Human immunodeficiency virus infections (HIV-1 and HIV-2) in Dakar. Epidemiologic and clinical aspects]

The authors report on the results of an investigation carried out on 109 HIV seropositives ascertained by the Dakar Central Hospital between February 20, 1987 and May 31, 1988. These seropositives affected 44 patients with AIDS (0.78% of admitted patients) and 65 seropositive people of which 43 blood donors (1.35% of donors). Both viruses are present in about equal number: 50 HIV1 seropositives, 44 HIV2 seropositives, and 15 composite seropositives. Sex-ratio is 3,9 in favour of males; this figure is nearer to the one observed in Europe and North American than the one observed in Central Africa where there is equality between both sex. Clinical patterns are dominated by a bad general status: lost of weight, fever, diarrhea, polyadenopathiae, pneumopathiae, meningoencephalitis. Kaposi's sarcoma and cryptococcal meningitis have been observed only four times. Development of the infection lead to death for 12 patients during the 16 months of the investigation. Both viruses are responsible for an equal immunodepression, leading to the same potential severity. Immunodepression might be acquired more slowly with HIV2, so strongly suggesting an incubation apparently lasting more.