The use of beta-2 microglobulin in the diagnosis of AIDS, suspected AIDS, and preclinical AIDS

Serum beta2-microglobulin as a possible early indicator of glomerular filtration impairment in subjects receiving long-term lithium treatment

Serumβ2-microglobulin (β2m) levels were increased in ten out of 52 patients on chronic lithium treatment, while creatinine levels were within the normal range in all of them and creatinine clearance was below the normality in only five. We propose serumβ2m assessment as a possible precocious indicator of glomerular filtration impairment, and recommend its frequent determination in patients chronically treated with lithium to prevent the occurrence of renal insufficiency.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin in intravenous drug users and its correlation with human immunodeficiency virus infection

High levels of serum beta 2-microglobulin have been associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection and beta 2-microglobulin has been used with other serological and immunological markers for monitoring disease progression. The usefulness of beta 2-microglobulin as a prognostic marker during human immunodeficiency virus infection has been demonstrated in homosexual men and hemophiliacs; few and contradictory data have been reported in intravenous drug users. We have evaluated a cohort of 160 intravenous drug users (81 seronegative and 79 seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus infection) with normal renal function to assess whether serum beta 2-microglobulin could be used as a serological marker for monitoring infection; 78 healthy subjects were used as controls. Of 79 seropositive drug users, 54 were asymptomatic or had persistent generalized lymphoadenopathy the remaining 25 had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Seropositive patients were tested for CD4+ lymphocyte number, p24 antigen and anti-p24 antibodies. A significant statistical difference was found in mean serum beta 2-microglobulin levels between seronegative and seropositive drug users. Moreover, higher levels of beta 2-microglobulin were observed in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients compared with asymptomatic or patients with persistent lymphadenopathy. A significant relationship was also observed between increased concentration of beta 2-microglobulin and the serological and immunological markers which indicate human immunodeficiency virus disease progression.

Humoral aspects of anti-HIV immune responses in Zairians with AIDS: lower antigenemia does not correlate with immune complex levels

Serological patterns of anti-HIV immune responses of 150 HIV-infected (65 asymptomatic, 19 ARC, 66 AIDS) and 150 HIV-negative healthy Zairians were studied to determine the clinical significance of p24 antigen, and anti-p24 antibody, particularly in relation to p24 relative binding capacity (RBC) and circulating immune complexes (CICs). Levels of p24 antigen, anti-p24 antibody titers, and p24 RBC were evaluated by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Circulating immune complexes were measured by C1q-binding assay. Human immunodeficiency virus CICs were detected by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation followed by 6 M guanidinium lysis, ELISA, Western blot, or radioimmunoprecipitation of the lysed precipitates. Immunoglobulin levels for IgG, IgM, IgA, and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) were quantified in all study participants by laser nephelometry and ELISA. All immunoglobulin levels were significantly elevated among HIV-positive vs. HIV-negative individuals. Immunoglobulin levels correlated well with disease progression among infected patients. Similarly, beta 2-M levels were significantly higher in HIV-positive vs. HIV-negative individuals and correlated well with progression to AIDS. Free p24 antigen in serum was detected in 1.33% of all patients. However, p24 reactivity increased to 6% (9 of 150 cases) after PEG precipitation and CIC dissociation. There was a good correlation between p24 reactivity and disease development. High titers of anti-p24 antibody (> 44,100) occurred in at least 80% of all patients, and did not correlate with disease stage. Similarly, more than 60% of patients had high levels of p24 RBC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of erythrocyte HLA expression during interferon treatment and HIV infection

Although HLA antigens are present on the surface membrane of most cells, erythrocytes express little or no HLA. Occasionally red cells from normal individuals or patients with certain diseases express elevated levels of these molecules. The reasons for such variations are currently not understood. We report here that the expression of very high levels of HLA on erythrocytes occurs in response to interferon alpha given as a therapeutic agent for viral hepatitis. Increased expression became apparent after the second or third week of treatment, peaked at 3-4 months, and decreased at the end of the treatment period. This chronology suggests that elevated HLA expression is originated during erythropoiesis and persists throughout the lifetime of the erythrocyte. Furthermore, erythrocyte HLA expression did not correlate with changes of plasma HLA or beta 2-microglobulin concentrations and was not affected by in vitro chloroquine treatment, ruling out the possibility that HLA was adsorbed from plasma. Increased expression of HLA on erythrocytes was also demonstrated in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, a disease in which increased production of endogenous interferon has been previously documented. We conclude that high HLA expression in red cells occurs in response to persistent interferon stimulation. Further studies will determine if this effect can also be produced by interferon tau or other factors.

Comparison of serum beta-2-microglobulin levels in patients with symptoms of allergic rhinitis and elevated modified RAST scores vs. a control population

Forty-four subjects, having clinical histories consistent with allergic rhinitis with modified RAST score(s) of two or more for at least one of five locally prevalent aeroantigens, were compared with 48 control subjects with modified RAST scores of zero for all given aeroallergens. There was no significant difference between these two groups in mean levels of serum beta-2-microglobulin (Student's t, p greater than 0.05).

Transmissibility of human immunodeficiency virus in haemophilic and non-haemophilic children living in a private school in France

In a study of the transmissibility of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in haemophilic and non-haemophilic children living together in a boarding school in France, half of the haemophilic children had seroconverted by the end of a 3-year study period. By contrast none of the non-haemophilic children seroconverted. All children had had close casual contact, some of them for several years. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers detected in all polytransfused haemophiliacs were found in 4 of 20 control children in the school, whereas all healthy youngsters living with their families were HBV negative. This study adds support to the theory that transmissibility of HIV among casual contacts is low and that there is no reason to exclude HIV-antibody carriers from communities.