Cr. Manaloto et al., NATURAL-HISTORY OF HIV-INFECTION IN FILIPINO FEMALE COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes, 7(11), 1994, pp. 1157-1168
A prospective follow-up study of the progression of HIV infection, fro
m seroconversion to onset of opportunistic infections (OI) indicative
of immune deficiency and to death, was performed in a cohort of 54 HIV
-1 antibody positive Filipino female commercial sex workers (FCSW). Th
e cumulative probability of having a CD4(+) T cell count of <200/mm(3)
and/or an OI indicative of severe immune deficiency was 52.9% within
5 years and 73.8% within 6 years after seroconversion. The cumulative
probability of death was 52.1% within 6.5 years following seroconversi
on and 52.7% within 1.5 years after a depressed (<200/mm(3)) CD4(+) T
cell or onset of an OI. Although several OI associated with immune imp
airment were observed, a CD4(+) cell count of <200/mm(3) was the initi
al indicator of a failing immune system in more than 50% of the patien
ts. Mycobacterium tuberculosis or unidentified acid fast bacilli (pres
umed to be M. tuberculosis) and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were th
e initial indictors of immune deficiency in the remaining patients.