OBJECTIVETo explore Chinese medicine syndrome distribution laws of asymptomatic HIV infection patients.

METHODSUsing Chi-square test, Chinese medicine syndrome distribution laws were compared and analyzed in 1 156 asymptomatic HIV infection patients from March 2009 to October 2011 from four aspects, i.e., age, possible infection time, disease duration, and different routes of infection.

RESULTSQi deficiency syndrome (QDS) and internal dampness-heat accumulation syndrome (IDHAS) were dominant in all syndrome types. Along with aging, QDS showed a growing tendency, while IDHAS showed obvious declining tendency. There was no obvious change in other syndrome types. There was statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome type among each age period (P < 0.01). Within 15 years, along with the increase of infection time, QDS showed a growing tendency, while IDHAS ratio showed an obvious declining tendency. No obvious laws were found in other syndrome types. There was statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome type (P < 0.01). Along with the prolongation of disease duration, the case number of each syndrome showed a decreasing trend, but QDS and IDHAS still accounted for higher ratios in each stage. There was statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome type (P < 0.01). As for infection routes, QDS was predominant in paid blood donation, blood transfusion infection, intravenous drugs. IDHAS was predominant in sexual transmit. No obvious laws were found in other syndrome types. There was statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome type (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDIS, IDHAS, and no confirmable syndrome typing were dominant in asymptomatic HIV infection patients. Deficiency and dampness were important pathological factors for them.