title: Immune complex p24 antigen: a new prognostic marker in human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: p24 antigen (p24 Ag) is usually not found in patients in the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection, mainly because it is bound to anti-p24 antibodies (p24 Ab), with which it forms immune complexes. Nine asymptomatic patients positive for HIV-1 antibodies (stage II CDC criteria) treated with r alpha-interferon were followed (7.5 +/- 0.5 months), and a basal and final sample were tested for p24 Ag immune complexes (p24 Ag-IC), free p24 Ag, p24 Ab, CD4 count, beta 2-microglobulin, properdin B factor, and C3 and C4 complement fractions. p24 Ag-IC was detected in 55.5% of the samples, whereas free p24 Ag was detected in 5.5%. The finding of no change or an increase in p24 Ag-IC serum levels may be considered a prognostic marker. We believe that p24 Ab cannot be used as a prognostic marker unless p24 Ag-IC detection is simultaneously evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Service, University of Granada Hospital, Spain.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cabezas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quirós
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Quero
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Higuera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piédrola
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maroto
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D015415:Biomarkers; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24