Twenty five years of HIV infection in haemophilic men in Britain: an observational study
BMJ 2005; 331 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38604.468785.DE (Published 27 October 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;331:997
- Caroline A Sabin, professor (c.sabin@pcps.ucl.ac.uk)1,
- Andrew N Phillips, professor1,
- Thynn Thynn Yee, medical specialist2,
- Anja Griffioen, database manager2,
- Christine A Lee, professor2
- 1Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free and UC Medical School, London NW3 2PF
- 2Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Royal Free NHS Trust, London
- Correspondence to: C A Sabin
- Accepted 5 September 2005
Introduction
The first HIV seroconversion in the United Kingdom in a man with haemophilia was in 1979.1 After HIV was identified, measures were taken to remove the risk of HIV transmission via blood products, and since 1986 no HIV infections have occurred through this route in the developed world. The epidemic is now 25 years old in haemophilic men. Although the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has altered the course of HIV infection, many haemophilic men died before this became available. It is important to monitor those remaining alive to determine their long term outcomes and to assess the impact of coinfection with hepatitis C virus.
Participants, methods, and results
The Royal Free Hospital haemophilia cohort, consisting of 111 men with haemophilia infected with HIV after treatment with contaminated clotting factor concentrates (median age 22 (range 2-77) years at infection), has been described previously.2 All are coinfected with hepatitis C virus. Follow-up time—calculated from seroconversion date to the date of death, last clinic visit (for those lost to follow-up), …