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Asymptomatic HIV infection

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Definition:

Asymptomatic HIV infection is a phase during chronic infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) during which there are no symptoms of HIV infection.

Alternative Names:

HIV infection - asymptomatic

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Asymptomatic HIV infection is a period of varying length in which there is slow deterioration of the immune system without clinical symptoms. There is frequently a decline in the CD4 counts, an index of immune function.

The length of this phase is highly variable among individuals and correlates with the level of replication of HIV in each individual, as well as genetic differences in the way the immune system handles the virus.

In some individuals, the asymptomatic phase can last 10 years or longer, while in others, clinical symptoms and worsening immune function may occur within a few years from the time of original infection.

• Review Date: 2/13/2006
• Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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