EVOLUTION AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC AND CLINICAL- FEATURES OF THE HIV-INFECTION CONTRACTED THROUGH HETEROSEXUAL CONTACT

We reviewed the features of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, whose only way of acquisition was heterosexual conta cts, analyzing differences with others risk groups. Epidemiological fe atures (age, gender, family situation, socioeconomic status and sexual behavior), clinical manifestations immunological status, and evolutio n of 40 patients with HIV infection through heterosexual contact are s tudied, and compared with others risk groups. All were attended in our center from 1985 to October 1991; 15 were in stage IV. Along the stud y period, the proportion of heterosexual patients has steadily increas ed to represent 40% on total number of acquired immunodeficiency syndr ome (AIDS) cases diagnosed in 1991. This study allow to stablish two g roups of patients depending on the gender. All men had had occasional sexual contacts with prostitutes, most had no stable partner, they mai nly were between their fourth and sixth decade of life, and they were stable partners of seropositive patients or prostitutes, they had an a veraged age significantly lower than men, and they were diagnosed in e arlier stages. Two groups with different features can be stablished am ong the patients infected through heterosexual contacts. Men are adult s, and acquired HIV infection through contacts with prostitute; they a re diagnosed in late phases of the disease. On the contrary, women are younger, with no homogeneous patterns of behavior and they are diagno sed in earlier stages. Complications throughout the evaluation were si milar in the heterosexual and in the others groups.