Association between neopterin and beta-2-microglobulin levels and HIV status in Romanian orphanage children.
Serologic markers of immune activation, neopterin and beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), have been shown to predict progressive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease based on cohort studies in adults. Both parameters appear also to be valuable in distinguishing HIV-1 infants with progressive disease from asymptomatic infants and HIV-1 seronegative infants. In a cross-sectional study we examined the utility of neopterin and B2M testing in 135 infants of an orphanage in Romania, 69 of the infants (51%) were found to be HIV-1 antibody seropositive; 95% of the 135 infants were either hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen or antibody seropositive. In the HIV-1 seronegative infants B2M was higher in those with HBV antigenaemia. Serum neopterin and B2M concentrations were higher in HIV-1 seropositive than in seronegative infants (p = 7 x 10(-12) and 1 x 10(-6)). Children with CDC stage P2 had only slightly higher neopterin and B2M values as compared to stage P1 (P = 0.04 and 0.08). Our study indicates that measurement of neopterin and B2M is useful to monitor HIV-1 infection, particularly in areas where laboratory facilities are limited. Both parameters continue to be associated with HIV-1 infection even when there is a high background rate of other infections.
Clinic for Paediatrics, University of Innsbruck.
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Zaknun
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DiFranco
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Oswald
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Zaknun
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Mayersbach
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Vuja
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Wachter
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Fuchs
D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002670:Child, Abandoned; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019798:Neopterin; D011379:Prognosis; D012383:Romania; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin