Acquired immunodeficiency without HIV infection: epidemiology and clinical outcome in Italy

摘要

Cases of acquired immunodeficiency without HIV infection, but with depletion of CD4 T lymphocytes have been reported since 1989. We estimated the prevalence of this condition in Italy and evaluated its clinical outcome. In January 1993 the Italian National AIDS Unit began a nationwide retrospective survey of symptomatic cases of acquired immunodeficiency without HIV infection. Cases were defined as having (a) one or more clinical conditions indicating severe immuno-suppression; (b) depleted CD4 T lymphocytes (fewer than 300 x 10~6 cells/l or proportionately less than 20% of the lymphocyte count) at the time of clinical diagnosis; (c) no known cause of immunosuppression; and (d) negative results for HIV infection on enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and in at least one supplementary test.