title: Comparison among delayed-type skin tests, serum IgE levels and peripheral blood CD4 in HIV-positive patients.
abstract: Three groups of HIV-positive men and a control group of healthy subjects were evaluated simultaneously by delayed-type skin tests with recall antigens detection of CD4 cell counts in peripheral blood and the IgE serum levels. Delayed-type skin test reactivity and CD4 cell counts in peripheral blood decreased while IgE serum levels increased as immune imbalance progressed with the worsening of HIV infection (p = 0.003 between controls and HIV-positive patients). The existence of atopy did not significantly influence IgE serum levels in the groups of HIV-positive patients (p < 0.2). Candidin appeared as a useful antigen in the delayed-type skin tests considering that it was the only antigen that remained positive with low values of CD4 cell counts (< or = 250/mm3). The detection of serum IgE levels as well as the performance of delayed-type skin tests with recall antigens are useful tools to evaluate immunological status whereas the number of CD4 in peripheral blood is critical for determining the initiation of antiretroviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Alergia, Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Coduri
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bignone
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pionetti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011864:Radioimmunosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E