OPPORTUNISTIC EVENTS AND P17 EXPRESSION IN THE BONE-MARROW OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED PATIENTS

Bone marrow biopsies from 114 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infec ted patients were stained with an anti-p17 monoclonal antibody to dete ct active HIV replication and associated factors. Immunoreactive p17 w as found as virus-like particles in macrophages and dendritic cells an d occasionally in megakaryocytes in 62 of 114 marrows and was consider ed evidence of active HIV replication. Immunoreactive p17 was not foun d significantly more often in the marrows of patients with lower CD4 c ell counts; however, it was found significantly more in the marrows of patients with concurrent mycobacterial or fungal infections or lympho ma (chi(2) = 12.1, P < .001). Immunoreactive p17 was even more frequen t when these opportunistic diseases were found in the biopsied marrow (chi(2) = 20.5, P < .001). The association of active HIV replication w ith certain opportunistic diseases, but not with lower CD4 cell counts , raises the possibility that these opportunistic diseases may under s ome circumstances be a cause as well as a consequence of active HIV re plication.