Clinical, Hematologic, and Immunologic Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Individuals Exposed to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-2 (HIV-2)

We studied the clinical status and certain hematologic and immunologic parameters in healthy prostitutes from Dakar, Senegal who were seropositive for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type-2 (HIV-2). Generalized lymphadenopathy and clinical signs or symptoms similar to those which are seen with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection were not present. Comparison to seronegative prostitutes and minor surgery control patients were made and significant elevations were seen in T8 lymphocytes (p =.03), IgG (p =.0001), and β2-microglobulin (p =.03). The mean T4 lymphocyte count in seropositive prostitutes was lower than in seronegative prostitutes (757 vs. 1179, p =.15), but this difference was not statistically significant and appeared to be correlated with age. No significant differences were noted between the seronegative and seropositive prostitutes in lymphocyte stimulation studies to certain mitogens. Antilymphocyte antibodies above background were not present in either population....