Urinary excretion of porphyrins is increased in patients with HIV-1 infection.
Urine concentrations of total porphyrins and of porphyrin precursors, delta-aminolaevulinic acid and porphobilinogen, were analysed in the first-morning urine samples of 36 people with established HIV-1 infection. For comparison, we also analysed the urine samples of 26 healthy HIV-seronegative people. In patients with HIV-1 infection concentrations of total porphyrins were found to be significantly higher than in healthy controls. Furthermore, there was a close correlation between concentrations of total porphyrins and porphobilinogen and urine neopterin concentrations in patients. Our data indicate an association between chronic immune activation and altered porphyrin metabolism. The data may provide a rationale for the observation of acute porphyria in patients with HIV-1 infection.
Fuchs
D
D
Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Artner-Dworzak
E
E
Hausen
A
A
Reibnegger
G
G
Werner
E R
ER
Werner-Felmayer
G
G
Dierich
M P
MP
Wachter
H
H
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007982:Levulinic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D011162:Porphobilinogen / Q000652:urine*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous
D007982:Levulinic Acids; D011166:Porphyrins; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D011162:Porphobilinogen; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid