Search

An investigation of cases of CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia and severe opportunistic infections without HIV infection did not find any evidence of a new infectious agent or environmental cause that could explain the lymphocytopenia or illnesses. CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia is the depletion of certain white blood cells and is seen in HIV-infected patients. Of 47 patients with unexplained CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia, 29 were male and 18 were female. Only 18 of the patients reported one or more risk factors for HIV infection. Seven were hemophiliacs who had received blood transfusions, six had had homosexual sex, six non-hemophiliacs had received blood transfusions and two had heterosexual partners at risk of HIV infection. Nineteen patients had illnesses that would usually lead to an AIDS diagnosis. Blood samples were taken from 28 patients, and all were HIV-negative. Ten sex partners, three relatives and four children of the patients and six people who had donated blood to the patients were tested. All were healthy and HIV-negative and had normal levels of CD4+ T-lymphocytes.