title: Fibronectin in HIV-infected patients: a prospective study.
abstract: Fibronectin, a non-specific opsonin involved in the clearance of microorganisms, is thought to play a role in various infectious disease processes. Its diagnostic value as a biological marker of infection and/or prognosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients is questionable. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate plasma fibronectin levels in patients with HIV infection at different stages of the disease. Eighty-one consecutive HIV-infected patients seen in our department were evaluated clinically and biologically. Classifications according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stages were: Group II (n = 22), Group III (n = 17), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (n = 17) and AIDS related complex (n = 25). Plasma fibronectin levels were measured by a radial immunodiffusion assay. Plasma fibronectin levels were not different between HIV-infected patients (344 +/- 128 mg/L) and controls (n = 20, 335 +/- 45 mg/L). Among the 81 patients, plasma fibronectin levels were within normal value in 79%, with no significant difference of mean plasma fibronectin between the different CDC groups. No correlation was found between plasma fibronectin and other biological parameters including CD4+ cells, p24 antigen, beta-2-microglobulin. Furthermore, no correlation was noted between fibronectin and complement levels or presence of circulating immune complexes. These results suggest that plasma fibronectin is not a useful marker in patients with HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raffi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boudart
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merrien
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Barrier
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000175:diagnosis; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005353:Fibronectins