Progression to AIDS is more rapid under the following circumstances:

• When syncytia-forming HIV is present
• When acute infection is symptomatic
• When HIV occurs with a drug-resistant strain
• When  a higher "set point" of HIV RNA follows initial viremia after infection
• When seroconversion takes place at an greater age
• When the patient smokes
• When an opportunistic infection or neoplasm is present
•  When, in congenital cases, there are signs of infection at less than 3 months of age

Progression to AIDS from clinical latency in persons with HIV infection is suggested by:

• CD4 lymphocyte counts of less than 500 cell per ml
• failure to maintain normal lymph node
•  p24 antigenemia appears in peripheral blood
• increasing HIV-1 RNA levels

Adapted from: PATHOLOGY OF AIDS Version 8 by Edward C. Klatt, MD, Department of Pathology, University of Utah. January 9, 1999 Copyright ã by Edward C. Klatt, MD