Summary
The clinical value of different classification systems of HIV-infection has been examined in a cohort of 99 HIV-infected individuals. AIDS-related complex (ARC), Walter-Reed (WR) stage 5 and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) group IV without AIDS cases were equally capable of identifying patients with bad prognosis: Out of 12 patients progressing to AIDS, 9 WR 5, 7 CDC IV and 7 ARC. Prognostic parameters (Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Haemoglobin, Leucocytes, CD4-lymphocytes and Beta2-Microglobulin) did not differ in the three groups.
However, there were great differences in the frequency of patients infected by homosexual contacts and of intravenous drug-abusers. Drug-abusers were more often seen in the ARC-group, whereas there was a slight dominance of homosexuals in the WR 5-group (and a marked preponderance in the AIDS-group).
Using 3 different ARC-definitions we found an ARC-frequency of 10%, 24% and 41% in our cohort. Thus the great variability of the ARC-concept could be demonstrated.
In conclusion we believe that for the purpose of clinical documentation and studies the ARC-concept is unnecessary. Further studies have to evaluate other classification systems (Walter-Reed, CDC) or to establish new ones.
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Abbreviations
- AIDS:
-
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
- HIV:
-
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- ARC:
-
AIDS-related complex
- LAS:
-
Lymphadenopathie Syndrom
- WR:
-
Walter Reed Stadium
- CDC:
-
Centers for Disease Control
- NIH:
-
National Institute of Health
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Herrn Prof. Dr. W. Kaufmann zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet
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Fätkenheuer, G., Schrappe-Bächer, M., Salzberger, B. et al. Der AIDS-related complex: Ein überflüssiger Begriff?. Klin Wochenschr 68, 89–93 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01646849
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01646849