Pj. Plourde et al., HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 SEROCONVERSION IN WOMEN WITH GENITAL ULCERS, The Journal of infectious diseases, 170(2), 1994, pp. 313-317
Genital ulcers are implicated as a risk factor enhancing susceptibilit
y to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. A prospect
ive study to determine the incidence of and risk factors associated wi
th acquisition of HIV-1 in women with genital ulcers was done. HIV-1-s
eronegative women with genital ulcers attending a clinic for sexually
transmitted diseases in Nairobi were followed to HIV-1 seroconversion
over a 6-month period. Of 81 women, 10 seroconverted to HIV-1. The cru
de 6-month incidence of HIV-1 infection was 12%. Risk factors associat
ed with seroconversion included cervical ectopy (rate ratio [RR], 4.9;
95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-15.6) and pelvic inflammatory disea
se (RR, 6.3; 95% CI, 1.9-20.4). Thus, cervical ectopy and pelvic infla
mmatory disease may increase susceptibility to HIV-1 in women with gen
ital ulcers.