Immunoglobulin levels amongst persons with and without HIV-1 infection in Uganda and Norway.
Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. A10405)
Lugada ES, Mermin JH, Asjo B, Kaharuza F, Downing R, Langeland N, Ormaasen V, Bruun J, Awor AC, Ulvestad E Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda
BackgroundCD4+ cell count and viral load monitoring is unavailable or expensive to most HIV-infected people in Africa. MethodTo evaluate alternative methods for monitoring disease progression and antiretroviral therapy, we measured CD4+ cell counts and concentrations of IgA, IgM, IgG and IgG1 among adults with and without HIV in Uganda and Norway. We enrolled 311 adult Ugandan subjects, 161 (52%) of whom were HIV-positive, and 145 adult Norwegian subjects, 55 (38%) of whom were HIV-positive. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare between groups. Associations between CD4+ cell count and immunoglobulin concentrations were determined using Spearman's rank correlation. ResultsMedian levels of total IgG, IgG1 and IgA but not IgM were higher in HIV-positive persons than in HIV-negative persons from both countries (p<0.001 for all comparisons except IgA in Ugandan subjects p=0.018). IgA and IgG were negatively correlated with CD4+ cell counts among HIV-negative and HIV-positive subjects: Uganda (r = -0.38 and r = -0.36 respectively, p<0.001); Norway (r = -0.53 and r = -0.41 respectively, p<0.001). Levels of IgA but not IgG or IgM were greater in persons with HIV infection with CD4 cell counts<200 cells/muL than >200 cells/muL (p<0.001). Overall, levels of immunoglobulins were higher in Ugandan than in Norwegian subjects independent of HIV status. ConclusionLevels of IgA and IgG vary between HIV-negative and HIV-positive individuals, and are associated with CD4 cell count. Their determinations may be useful in monitoring both disease progression and response to ARV therapy.
Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Viral Load, HIV Seropositivity, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Disease Progression, Immunoglobulins, Immunoglobulin G, Norway, Uganda, Africa, Adult, immunology
