Expression of human immunodeficiency virus antigen (HIV-Ag) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid during acute and chronic infection.
Human immunodeficiency virus antigen (HIV-Ag) was detected in the serum of most adult (13/16) and paediatric (6/6) AIDS patients and rarely in the serum of symptomless seropositive controls (1/13). It was present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of all 5 children and most (5/9) adults with AIDS-related encephalopathy, but not in the CSF of 13 symptomless seropositive controls, of whom 8 had antibody in the CSF. A longitudinal study of 1 of the controls with antibody in the CSF showed that HIV-Ag in CSF was present transiently before the occurrence of antibody in the CSF. In serial samples of serum from 35 men who seroconverted HIV-Ag was detected in 11 persons--in 5 before seroconversion and in 6 after. 3 of the 6 who became antigenaemic after seroconversion remained so for the rest of the follow-up. AIDS was diagnosed in 1 patient, 3 months after HIV-Ag was first detected in serum and 6 months after seroconversion. The findings suggest that HIV-Ag appears early and transiently in primary HIV infection. Antibody production follows, after which HIV-Ag may disappear. Its persistence or reappearance seems to correlate with clinical, immunological, and neurological deterioration.
Goudsmit
J
J
de Wolf
F
F
Paul
D A
DA
Epstein
L G
LG
Lange
J M
JM
Krone
W J
WJ
Speelman
H
H
Wolters
E C
EC
Van der Noordaa
J
J
Oleske
J M
JM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens