Department of Epidemiology, College of Military Preventive Medicine, Department of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038; Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing, 400042, China
Objective To investigate the possible causes of AIDS-related complex (HIV negative) in community population. Methods Qualitative systematic analysis was used to screen the cases with AIDS-related complex (HIV negative) that had been reported. The possible clustering types of the clinical features of AIDS-related complex were explored based on a cross-section study that had been conducted to observe the personality and clinical features of the cases with AIDS-related complex. Results The qualitative systematic analysis suggested that the idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia (ICL) and infection of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) had similar characteristics with AIDS-related complex (HIV negative). Through network investigation of 174 cases and field observation of 52 cases, the data showed that the AIDS-related complex population came from different areas of China, and was dominated by young and middle-aged male patients. The complained symptoms involved respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, skin, muscle, skeleton and nervous system. The clinical course could be divided into an acute period and a stable period. The special symptoms are swollen lymph nodes, snapping joint, osteodynia, muscle throbbing pain, skin nodules (rash), greasy tongue coating and dry skin. The CD4+ T lymphocytes <500/μL (32.69%), the abnormal ratio of CD4/CD8 (30.77%), the positive antibody of IFN-γ (36.69%) and positive PPD (++ to +++, 75.00%) were detected in the 52 cases, and high risk sexual behavior was a suspected exposure factor. Conclusion The AIDS-related complex (HIV negative) in population can not be completely explained by mental disorder. The clinical features have obvious consistency and regularity, and need further study to verify.