Lack of transmission of HIV to sexual and non-sexual contacts to HIV seropositive haemophiliacs following preventive information

Abstract

In order to evaluate the risk of HIV transmission to sexual and non-sexual contacts to seropositive haemophiliacs, HIV antibodies, p24 antigen, immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed in a cohort of Swedish haemophiliac families to 19 patients who seroconverted in 1980-82. As controls served contacts to 26 seronegative haemophiliacs. A total of 77 contacts were investigated. Except for 3 sexual partners who had seroconverted before 1985 no signs of HIV infection were detected. It was concluded that no HIV transmission occurred to household contacts of seropositive haemophiliacs and that transmission to heterosexual partners not appeared since 1985 when the patients and their families were informed about the risk of infection.