Comparison of the quality of life of asymptomatic (n = 24) and symptomatic (n = 20) HIV-infected patients and description of the changes in quality of life during the symptomatic stage.Prospective study.University Hospital Utrecht.Every four months questionnaires on quality of life were completed by 44 of 55 consecutive HIV-infected patients.Physically, asymptomatic HIV-infected patients were better off than symptomatic HIV-infected patients; psychologically, however, both groups of patients showed similar responses. During the symptomatic stage the patients' physical functioning diminished further, but feelings of anxiety or depression showed no marked change; self-evaluations of health conditions became slightly more negative with time.