Absence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proviral sequences in seronegative hemophilic men and sexual partners of HIV‐seropositive hemophiliacs

To detect latent infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), specimens of peripheral blood leukocytes from HIV‐seronegative hemophiliacs and from sexual partners of HIV‐seropositive hemophiliacs were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The primer pair SK 38/39 derived from the gag region and/or the primer pair SK 68/69 corresponding to a conserved region of the env gene were used. Whereas HIV proviral DNA was detected by PCR in samples from 86 (97%) of 89 HIV‐seropositive hemophiliacs, no HIV‐DNA was found in blood samples of 198 HIV‐seronegative hemophiliacs at risk. Of 40 HIV‐seronegative sexual partners of HIV‐infected hemophiliacs, none was PCR positive. Thus, PCR is proving to be a sensitive method by which to confirm infection in seropositive hemophiliacs, while the negative results in HIV‐seronegative hemophiliacs and HIV‐seronegative sexual partners of HIV‐seropositive hemophiliacs suggest that a prolonged seronegative period of latent HIV infection is the exception.