ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The epidemiologic and clinical features of HIV infection/AIDS are different among various races, regions, and countries. To determine the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of HIV infection in Korea, we analyzed and compared with that of other populations. METHODS: Medical records of 176 HIV-infected persons in Severance Hospital of Yonsei University College of Medicine and Hospital of Pusan University College of Medicine from year 1985 to 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy six patients were analyzed among which 156 (88.6%) were male and 20 (11.4%) were female with a male to female ratio of 7.8:1. At the time of diagnosis, the age distribution was 78 cases (44.3%) in the thirties, 44 cases (25.0%) in the twenties, and 35 cases (19.9%) in the fourties, and the mean age was 35.9+/-9.3. Heterosexual contact was the most frequent transmission route (92 cases, 52.3%), and 42 cases (23.9%) were transmitted by homosexual contact. At initial visit, asymptomatic HIV infection constituted 75 cases (42.6%), and AIDS 72 cases (40.9%). At initial visit, mean value of CD4+ lymphocyte counts was 252/mm3 and HIV RNA 226,035 copies/mm3. One hundred and twenty one of 176 patients developed 317 cases of opportunistic diseases. At the diagnosis of HIV-related opportunistic diseases, mean CD4+ lymphocyte count was 140/mm3 and mean HIV RNA 347,403 copies/mm3. Candidiasis (50 cases, 28.4%) was the most frequent opportunistic disease followed by pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) (37 cases, 21.0%), tuberculosis (29 cases, 16.5%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (21 cases, 11.9%), HIV encephalopathy (9 cases, 5.1%), and herpes zoster (9 cases, 5.1%). There were 3 cases (1.7%) of malignant lymphoma and 2 cases (1.1%) of Kaposi's sarcoma. At the diagnosis of opportunistic diseases, mean CD4+ lymphocyte counts of patients with candidiasis was 71/mm3, PCP 63/mm3, and tuberculosis 142/mm3, and the mean HIV RNA level was 338,474 copies/mm3, 281,967 copies/mm3, and 817,012 copies/mm3 respectively. Among the 317 opportunistic diseases, AIDS-defining diseases were 150 cases (47.3%), of which PCP was 37 cases (24.7%), tuberculosis 29 cases (19.3%), CMV infection 21 cases (14.0%), HIV wasting syndrome 15 cases (10.0%), and esophageal candidiasis 14 cases (9.3%). The earliest AIDS-defining diseases to manifest in AIDS patients were tuberculosis (25 cases, 33.3%), followed by PCP (17 cases, 22.6%), esophageal candidiasis (14 cases, 18.7%), CMV infection (5 cases, 6.6%), and HIV wasting syndrome (4 cases, 5.3%). Thirty five (19.9%) of 176 patients were died. The common causes of death were tuberculosis (9 cases, 25.7%), PCP (9 cases, 25.7%), bacterial pneumonia (7 cases, 20.0%) and HIV encephalopathy (3 cases, 8.5%). CONCLUSION: The epidemiologic and clinical features of HIV infection/AIDS in Korea are different from that of developing countries such as Southeast Asia and Africa as well as from that of developed countries.