title: Anti-cardiolipin antibodies and HIV infection.
abstract: Anti-cardiolipin antibodies of IgG class were found in 48% of intravenous drug users, 38% of homosexuals and 14% of heterosexuals (with no other risk factor) infected with HIV. Anti-cardiolipin antibodies were not increased in HIV-negative heterosexual partners of HIV-infected patients, but mildly elevated levels were detected in HIV-negative drug users, relative to healthy controls unselected for HIV status. Among HIV infected drug users, anti-cardiolipin antibodies were not associated with thrombocytopenia, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, disease progression or clinical stage. Anti-cardiolipin antibodies appear to be another non-specific marker of HIV infection which may be particularly common in male intravenous drug users infected with the virus.
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Centre, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maclean
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Flegg
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D002308:Cardiolipins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G