Profile of HIV-1 Infected Patients from an AIDS Clinic in Beijing from 2007-2008

While significant progress has been made since 2003 when a comprehensive treatment, prevention and control program was implemented to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China, new challenges are emerging. There have been limited direct case reports on profiles of HIV/AIDS patients under care at unique clinical settings in China despite significant differences between clinics in this part of the world and those in Western countries. In this report, characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients managed during a 12-month period from June 2007 to May 2008 at a major medical school-affiliated AIDS clinic in the center of Beijing are described. Our data confirm an alarming trend of increased rates of sexual transmission of HIV-1 in recent years and suggest that major improvements are needed for both the type of antiviral treatments being used and post-treatment monitoring of viral load. This information will be useful for the continued progress in the clinical management of HIV/AIDS patients in China.