Abstract
BACKGROUND
Haptoglobin (Hp) is a plasma protein with antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Three main genotypes/phenotypes (Hp1-1, Hp2-1, Hp2-2) show distinctive efficiencies in their activities and have been related to susceptibility and outcome in different diseases, including HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
To compare Hp genotype distribution between HIV-1 seropositive patients and healthy controls.
METHODS
387 Brazilian HIV-1 seropositive patients, subclassified as A, B, and C according to the Centers for Disease Control, were compared with 142 healthy controls. The influence of the polymorphism on iron status (serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation), acute phase proteins (Hp, C reactive protein, fibrinogen, albumin), the HIV-1 viral load, and CD4+ T lymphocyte counts was examined.
RESULTS
Apart from finding lower Hp concentrations among individuals with genotype Hp2-2, no other significant difference was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
No association was found between Hp genotype and either HIV status or indices of HIV progression.
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