Misdiagnosis of HIV Infection
Authors: Josiah D. Rich, Eleftherios Mylonakis, Timothy P. Flanigan
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters5 October 1999Misdiagnosis of HIV InfectionJosiah D. Rich, MD, MPH, Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, and Timothy P. Flanigan, MDJosiah D. Rich, MD, MPHBrown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Rich)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Mylonakis)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Flanigan)Search for more papers by this author, Eleftherios Mylonakis, MDBrown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Rich)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Mylonakis)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Flanigan)Search for more papers by this author, and Timothy P. Flanigan, MDBrown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Rich)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Mylonakis)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Flanigan)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-7-199910050-00031 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Palmas suggests that different levels of diagnostic sensitivity (1) could help minimize false-positive results. Prospective studies can evaluate this issue and quantify the frequency of misdiagnosis of HIV infection by HIV-1 plasma viral load testing. In the meantime, physicians should use caution in diagnosing HIV infection solely on the basis of a detectable HIV-1 plasma viral load. However, we continue to encourage efforts to rapidly and accurately diagnose acute HIV infection. This is a responsibility for all care providers, not just specialists in the field.Goodman and colleagues describe the converse situation, in which an undetectable HIV-1 ...References1. Saah AJ, Hoover DR. “Sensitivity” and “specificity” reconsidered: the meaning of these terms in analytical and diagnostic settings. Ann Intern Med. 1997;126:91-4. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Kirchhoff F, Greenough TC, Brettler DB, Sullivan JL, Desrosiers RC. Absence of intact nef sequences in a long-term survivor with nonprogressive HIV-1 infection. N Engl J Med. 1995;332:228-32. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Josiah D. Rich, MD, MPH; Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD; Timothy P. Flanigan, MDAffiliations: Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Rich)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Mylonakis)Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI 02906 (Flanigan) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoHave We Treated AIDS Too Well? Rationing and the Future of AIDS Exceptionalism David J. Casarett and John D. Lantos Misdiagnosis of HIV Infection by HIV-1 Plasma Viral Load Testing: A Case Series Josiah D. Rich , Nathan A. Merriman , Eleftherios Mylonakis , Thomas C. Greenough , Timothy P. Flanigan , Brian J. Mady , and Charles C.J. Carpenter Misdiagnosis of HIV Infection Walter Palmas Misdiagnosis of HIV Infection Charmagne Goodman , Wesley Emmons , and James Newton Metrics 5 October 1999Volume 131, Issue 7Page: 547-548KeywordsAntiviral therapyBlood plasmaHIV infectionsHIV-1Prospective studiesResearch laboratoriesViral load ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 5 October 1999 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...