Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 in two Saudi families

• Main Authors: Almaghrabi Reem, Ali Batool, Al-Thawadi Sahar, Halim Magid, Alrajhi Abdulrahman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre 2011-01-01
• Series: Annals of Saudi Medicine
• Online Access: http://www.saudiannals.net/article.asp?issn=0256-4947;year=2011;volume=31;issue=4;spage=417;epage=420;aulast=Almaghrabi

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2), the second retrovirus that causes the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in humans, is limited in its distribution to West Africa. We report cases in two Saudi families with HIV-2 infection and AIDS, resulting in death of the index cases-the husbands, while the wives and a daughter were maintained on antiretroviral therapy. When HIV viral loads were undetectable in initial assays, further testing confirmed the presence of HIV-2. In the first family, the 30-year-old wife was found to be HIV-positive after the diagnosis in her 30-year-old husband, who later died with AIDS. In the second family, HIV-2 infection was diagnosed in the 50-year-old wife and 18-year-old daughter of a man who had died of AIDS at the age of 48 years. Recognizing HIV-2 infection is essential for appropriate workup, assessment, therapy and care of the pregnant woman.