High seroprevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus in a Brooklyn maintenance hemodialysis unit: Preliminary observations

A preliminary study of 86 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in an urban unit serving a large number of intravenous drug addicts revealed that the HIV seroprevalence rate was 27% (27 of 70 screened). Twenty-three of 26 (89%) positive patients were intravenous addicts, and the remaining four included Haitian immigrants and gay men. There were no false positive ELISA reactions against HIV. No patient without a risk factor for HIV was seropositive, indicating an absence of nosocomial spread within a dialysis unit.