Human immunodeficiency viral DNA is readily found in lymph node biopsies from seropositive individuals. Analysis of fixed tissue using the polymerase chain reaction.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA was detected in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lymph node biopsies after in vitro DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. Twenty-three of 25 biopsies from HIV seropositive individuals were positive for HIV DNA including 11 with follicular hyperplasia, six with follicular involution, two who were partially involved with Kaposi's sarcoma, one with granulomatous lymphadenitis, and three with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The remaining two biopsies from seropositive individuals lacking detectable HIV DNA also contained non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. An average of 0.0001 to 0.01 HIV DNA copies per cell was estimated to be present in biopsies with follicular hyperplasia or involution. The positive lymphoma biopsies contained approximately tenfold fewer HIV DNA. In contrast, 19 of 20 biopsies from seronegative or low risk individuals were negative for HIV DNA. The sole exception was a seronegative individual with chronic adenopathy from follicular hyperplasia and a history of prostitute contact. The studies demonstrated a high prevalence of HIV DNA in non-lymphomatous lymph node biopsies from HIV infected individuals.