Heterosexual transmission of HIV by haemophiliacs

Abstract

We report a three year follow up study of 13 haemophiliacs positive for HIV antibody and their spouses. None of the patients' partners were positive for HIV antibody at any time during follow up. We calculated that in 11 couples unprotected vaginal intercourse occurred a maximum of 2,520 times (minimum 1,563) without transmission of HIV; for protected vaginal intercourse the figures were 1,252 and 942 respectively. Our patients had had different stages of HIV infection, including AIDS, for three to five years, and two had had continuous antigenaemia; we calculate that the rate of transmission of HIV by unprotected and protected intercourse was <0.04-0.06% and <0.08-0.1% respectively. We suggest that in the absence of other risk factors transmission of HIV from men to women by vaginal intercourse is infrequent.