EVALUATION OF A CLINICAL CASE-DEFINITION OF ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME IN AFRICA

Robert Colebunders, Henry Francis, Lebughe Izaley, Kanyinda Kabasele, Nzila Nzilambi, Guido Van Der Groen, Gaby Vercauteren, Jonathan M. Mann, Kapita Bila, Ndangi Kakonde, Limbaka Ifoto, Thomas C. Quinn, James W. Curran, Peter Piot

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

105 Scopus citations

Abstract

A provisional clinical case-definition for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in Africa was tested on 174 inpatients at Mama Yemo Hospital, Kinshasa, Zaire. In this hospital population with a 34% infection rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the clinical case-definition had a specificity of 90%, a sensitivity of 59%, and a predictive value of 74% for HIV seropositivity. These results support the use of the WHO clinical definition for AIDS in Africa. However, since HIV prevalence and disease expression vary, similar evaluations should be carried out in different regions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)492-494
Number of pages3
JournalThe Lancet
Volume329
Issue number8531
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 28 1987
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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