title: Low levels of mannan-binding lectin or ficolins are not associated with an increased risk of cytomegalovirus disease in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In HIV-infected patients, prediction of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease remains difficult. A protective role of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins against CMV disease has been reported after transplantation, but the impact in HIV-infected patients is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case-control study nested within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, we investigated associations between plasma levels of MBL/ficolins and CMV disease. We compared HIV-infected patients with CMV disease (cases) to CMV-seropositive patients without CMV disease (controls) matched for CD4 T-cells, sampling time, and use of combination antiretroviral therapy. MBL and M-ficolin, L-ficolin, and H-ficolin were quantified using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analysed 105 cases and 105 matched controls. CMV disease was neither associated with MBL (odds ratio [OR] 1.03 per log(10) ng/mL increase (95% CI 0.73-1.45)) nor with ficolins (OR per log(10) ng/mL increase 0.66 (95% CI 0.28-1.52), 2.34 (95% CI 0.44-12.36), and 0.89 (95% CI 0.26-3.03) for M-ficolin, L-ficolin, and H-ficolin, respectively). We found no evidence of a greater association between MBL and CMV disease in patients with low CD4 counts; however in the multivariable analysis, CMV disease was more likely in patients with an increased HIV RNA (OR 1.53 per log(10) copies/mL; 95% CI 1.08-2.16), or a shorter duration of HIV-infection (OR 0.91 per year; 95% CI 0.84-0.98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMV disease is not associated with low levels of MBL/ficolins, suggesting a lack of a protective role in HIV-infected patients.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. aegli@ualberta.ca
authors: Adrian
authors: A
authors: Egli
authors: Juliane
authors: J
authors: Schäfer
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Osthoff
authors: Steffen
authors: S
authors: Thiel
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Mikkelsen
authors: Andri
authors: A
authors: Rauch
authors: Hans H
authors: HH
authors: Hirsch
authors: Heiner C
authors: HC
authors: Bucher
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Young
authors: Jens C
authors: JC
authors: Jensenius
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Battegay
authors: Marten
authors: M
authors: Trendelenburg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D000097604:Ficolins
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin; D000097604:Ficolins