PROGRESSIVE IMMUNODEFICIENCY DUE TO INFECTION WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS DOES NOT LEAD TO WANING IMMUNITY TO MEASLES IN A COHORT OF HOMOSEXUAL MEN

The relationship between progressive immunodeficiency related to infec tion with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and waning immunity to me asles was investigated in this retrospective cohort study. Titers of s erum antibodies to measles virus were measured by enzyme immunoassay o f stored sera from a cohort of homosexual men who were studied at San Francisco General Hospital. Subjects underwent a baseline and follow-u p measure of measles antibodies. High levels of antibodies to measles virus were maintained in the HIV-positive and negative groups. One (2% ) of the 50 HIV-negative controls was seronegative for the measles vir us, and no controls evidenced seroreversal (decline in antibody to a l evel at which protection is not provided) during the study. Two (1.4%) of the 145 HIV-positive subjects were measles-seronegative, and two o thers evidenced seroreversal. Analysis with Spearman's rank correlatio n revealed no relationship between changes in the CD4 cell count and m easles antibody level. Thus we conclude that waning measles immunity i s not greatly accelerated in HIV-infected adults despite progressive H IV-related immunodeficiency.