[HIV-1 prevalence in forensic medicine examination of fatalities (Hamburg and Munich 1989)].

All fatalities investigated at the Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Hamburg and Munich are screened for HIV-1-antibodies. The serological findings of 1,000 consecutive cases in the year 1989 were compared concerning HIV-1-prevalence, riskgroup, age and sex distribution. The prevalence rate of HIV-1-antibodies was 5% in Hamburg and 6% in Munich. The HIV-seropositives were mainly i.v.-drug users and homosexuals dying from unnatural causes. Unexpectedly HIV-infection was also present in two males of advanced age with myocardial infarction. The HIV-1-prevalence rate of all drug related fatalities from 1985-1989 was investigated, too. The cumulated seropositivity in Hamburg was 14% and in Munich 18%. The development was unsteady; continuous monitoring of the HIV-status of drug deaths seems to be a worthful means to evaluate the spread of this disease among the risk group of intravenous drug addicts.