SERUM PROTEINS PATTERN IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY / VIRUS INFECTED NIGERIANS WITH ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) RELATED COMPLEX

Abstract

This cross-sectional study of twenty-three HIV-l infected adult Nigerian subjects with acquired immune deficiency syndrome related complex was designed to study the serum protein electrohoretic pattern in HIV infection and to determine the correlation between concentration of serum proteins and parameters of immune suppression. Serum protein electrophoregramms revealed a diffused rise in gamma globulin fraction in 87% of HIV infected subjects investigated. Densitometry scanning revealed elevated and broad gamma globulin peaks. Differences in electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins of subjects in the same stage of HIV disease progression are apparent. In comparison with the normal control subjects, total serum globulins (TSG) and gamma globulin concentration were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in asymptomatic HIV infected subjects with an absolute CD4 T lymphocyte count of < 500 cellsZmm". The concentrations of these parameters were not Significantly elevated (P> 0.05) in HIVinfected subjects with full-blown AIDS. Albumin: globulin ratio was significantly low (P < 0.05) in HIV infected subjects with an absolute CD4T lymphocyte count of < 500 cells /rnm". Serum concentrations of total serum proteins (TSP), albumin, alpha 1, alpha 2 and beta globulin were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from that of control subjects. Absolute CD4 T lymphocyte count correlated with TSG concentration (r = -0.29), absolute gamma globulin (r = -0.33), percentage gamma globulin (r = -0.38) and albumin: globulin ratio (r = 0.54). Humoral immune response probably plays significant roles in asymptomatic HIVinfection and serum albumin: globulin ratio can be used as a relatively inexpensive marker of immune depression in these subjects.