[Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics and clinical course of the HIV positive patient infected by heterosexual transmission].

We reviewed the features of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, whose only way of acquisition was heterosexual contacts, analyzing differences with others risk groups. Epidemiological features (age, gender, family situation, socioeconomic status and sexual behavior), clinical manifestations immunological status, and evolution of 40 patients with HIV infection through heterosexual contact are studied, and compared with others risk groups. All were attended in our center from 1985 to October 1991; 15 were in stage IV. Along the study period, the proportion of heterosexual patients has steadily increased to represent 40% on total number of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases diagnosed in 1991. This study allow to establish two groups of patients depending on the gender. All men had had occasional sexual contacts with prostitutes, most had no stable partner, they mainly were between their fourth and sixth decade of life, and they were stable partners of seropositive patients or prostitutes, they had an averaged age significantly lower than men, and they were diagnosed in earlier stages. Two groups with different features can be established among the patients infected through heterosexual contacts. Men are adults, and acquired HIV infection through contacts with prostitute; they are diagnosed in late phases of the disease. On the contrary, women are younger, with no homogeneous patterns of behavior and they are diagnosed in earlier stages. Complications throughout the evaluation were similar in the heterosexual and in the other groups.