PERSISTENT VIRUSES IN THE SEROLOGICAL DIA GNOSIS OF HIV-INFECTION

Specific antibodies to persistent viruses (CMV, EBV, HBV) were detecte d by ELISA in groups of HIV-infected patients and persons showing inde finite results of the immunoblotting test for HIV-1 antigens, on the o ne hand, and in HIV-seronegative donors and patients with clinical man ifestations of viral infection (CMVI) on the other. The findings indic ate that the persons with indefinite immunoblotting test results show elevated blood CMV and HBV antigen levels than in the matched group of seronegative donors. This fact suggests that persistent viral infecti ons might involve in the formation of an indefinite pattern when the s era were tested for HIV. The patients whose sera behaved in such a way represent a clinical risk group for HIV infection and call for furthe r follow-up.