RT Journal
A1 Gottlieb GS, Smith RA, Sow P
T1 LOng-term nonprogressive disease among individuals with untreated hiv infection
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2010
FD October 27
VO 304
IS 16
SP 1784
OP 1786
DO 10.1001/jama.2010.1475
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.1475
AB 
To the Editor: In their overview of long-term nonprogressive (LTNP) disease among individuals with untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, Drs Migueles and Connors1 overlooked misdiagnosed HIV type 2 (HIV-2) infection as a potential reason for apparent elite HIV-1 viral control and LTNP. HIV-2 is endemic in West Africa, with limited spread to other locales. Compared with HIV-1, the natural history of HIV-2 infection is characterized by a much longer asymptomatic stage, lower plasma viral loads, slower decline in CD4 counts, decreased mortality rate due to AIDS, and lower frequencies of mother-to-child and sexual transmission.2- 3