Deterioration in immunologic status of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected homosexual men with lymphadenopathy: prognostic implications.

Changes in immunologic parameters were followed in members of a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive homosexual or bisexual men with lymphadenopathy and were analyzed for differences between those who have and those who have not progressed to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (progressors, nonprogressors). T helpers and the Th/Ts ratio were lower in progressors than in nonprogressors both at entry into the study and at the latest visit. T suppressors were not different in the two groups at entry but were higher in nonprogressors at the latest visit. Evaluation of the patterns of change over time showed that T helpers and Th/Ts ratios tended to decrease over time in both nonprogressors and progressors, while T suppressors increased in nonprogressors and decreased in progressors. Although progressors had a greater deterioration in immunologic parameters over time, nonprogressors also had significant deterioration when compared with controls. Based on the respective percentages of men with abnormal or normal T helpers or Th/Ts ratio at entry who have already progressed to AIDS, we would conservatively estimate, considering their latest T helpers and Th/Ts ratio, that at least an additional 16 (32%) of our nonprogressors will develop AIDS in the next 5 years.