Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) circulating immune complexes in infected children.
Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were studied for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens (HIV-Ag) in 55 children infected by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). CIC were elevated in 85% of patients. In 33 of 55 patients CIC included at least one HIV-Ag (HIV-Ag-CIC). Sixty percent of patients had p17 antigen, 50% had p24 antigen, and 16% had gp120 associated with CIC. Levels of HIV-Ag-CIC did not correlate with free serum HIV antigens. Patients with high HIV-Ag-CIC had a more severe clinical course and 90% of those with markedly elevated HIV-Ag-CIC (greater than 3+) have died within 6 to 24 months. HIV-Ag-CIC were also present in some patients including neonates and young infants in whom free HIV-Ag was undetectable. Monitoring of HIV-Ag in isolated CIC may be of value for early detection of HIV infection and for monitoring of disease outcome.
Ellaurie
M
M
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Bronx, NY.
Calvelli
T A
TA
Rubinstein
A
A
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens