DETECTION OF INFECTION WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 BEFORE SEROCONVERSION - CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL SYMPTOMS AND OUTCOME

Early (pre-seroconversion) infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was identified in 50 of 267 participants in the Multic enter AIDS Cohort Study, These 50 men had a positive EIA result, which detected IgM antibody (n = 35), p24 antigen, or serum HIV RNA (n = 15 ) at their last ''seronegative'' visit, At that visit, the mean CD4 ly mphocyte number (890/mm(3) vs, 1038/mm(3)) was significantly lower tha n in men who subsequently seroconverted but had no evidence of early i nfection, The decline in CD4 cells was slower and the duration of AIDS -free time longer in the 19 men who were symptomatic in comparison to the 31 asymptomatic men with early infection, but differences were not significant.