Long-term HIV-1 infection without immunologic progression:

To identify and describe a subgroup of men infected with HIV for 10–15 years without immunologic progression, and to evaluate the effect of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and recreational drug use on delayed HIV disease progression. Design: Inception cohort study. Setting: Municipal STD clinic. A total of 588 men with well documented dates of HIV seroconversion and 197 HIV-seronegative controls. AIDS, CD4+ count, rate of CD4+ cell loss, CD8+ count, β2-microglobulin, complete blood count, p24 antigen and HIV-related symptoms. Of 588 men, 69% had developed AIDS by 14 years after HIV seroconversion (95% confidence interval, 64–73%). Of 539 men with HIV seroconversion dates prior to 1983, 42 men (8%) were healthy long-term HIV-positives (HLP), HIV-infected > 10 years without AIDS and with CD4+ counts >500 × 106/l. When compared with progressors (men with HIV seroconversion prior to 1983 but with AIDS or CD4+ counts