Serum beta 2-microglobulin decreases in patients with AIDS or ARC treated with azidothymidine.
Abnormally elevated serum beta 2-microglobulin has been associated with progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and could reflect in vivo HIV activity. We prospectively studied the effect of azidothymidine therapy on serum beta 2-microglobulin concentration in 41 patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex. Median beta 2-microglobulin concentration decreased from 4.02 mg/L before therapy to 3.73 mg/L at week 24 of therapy (P = .016). Individual changes in beta 2-microglobulin during azidothymidine therapy correlated with changes in serum HIV p24 antigen (Spearman, r = .42, P = .007). Also, in a randomized placebo-controlled study, median beta 2-microglobulin concentration decreased after 16 w of therapy in 5 azidothymidine-treated patients compared with levels in 7 placebo-treated controls (P = .05). Serum beta 2-microglobulin appears to be a sensitive marker for in vivo antiretroviral drug activity and may be a better marker than serum p24 antigen for early intervention trials involving antiretroviral agents.
Jacobson
M A
MA
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.
Abrams
D I
DI
Volberding
P A
PA
Bacchetti
P
P
Wilber
J
J
Chaisson
R E
RE
Crowe
S
S
Howard
W
W
Moss
A
A
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
D015488:HIV Antigens; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D015215:Zidovudine