Anti-HIV indeterminate Western blot in dialysis patients: A long-term follow-up

In a group of 520 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, 23 (4.4%) were enzyme immunoassay (EIA) positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) an d indeterminate by Western blot (IWB) analysis. The antibodies were mostly directed against p24 and p55 antigens. A comparison between hemodialysis pa tients with and without IWB showed significant differences between the two groups with respect to number of units of blood transfused, history of rena l transplant rejection, and Rh status. No significant differences were obse rved with respect to ethnic group, nature of renal disease, duration of hem odialysis, associated diseases, and ABO blood group. The HIV IWB phenomenon may represent abnormal immune reactivity as a result of transplantation an tigens and/or autoantibody formation. Five-year follow-up of the HIV EIA-po sitive IWB patients showed that none had seroconverted to HIV-positive stat us. (C) 1999 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.