Serum concentration of acute phase protein and lipid profile in HIV-1 seropositive patients and its relationship to the progression of the disease.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of HIV-1 infection and its progression on lipid profiles, acute-phase proteins and to determine which of the parameters may serve as an early indicator of the progression of HIV infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on sixty-two HIV-1 infected subjects attending HIV clinic, the patients consisted of 29 males and 33 females aged between 20-60 years (mean age 31+/- 7 years) who were screened for HIV-1 by ELISA test. Absolute CD4+ T lymphocyte was counted and HIV infected individuals were classified according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Criteria; CD4+ counts e"500/mm3 (asymptomatic), CD4+ counts 200-499/mm3 (symptomatic) and CD4+ counts d"199/mm3 (symptomatic) with full blown AIDS. Serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, gamma globulin, acute-phase protein, and lipid profile were determined. RESULTS: There was significantly increased gamma globulin fraction of the serum protein in HIV patients with CD4+ counts of e"500/mm3, 200-499/mm3 and d"199/mm3 when compared with the controls. Serum triglyceride was significantly increased in HIV patients with CD4+ counts of d"199/mm3 only, whereas a significantly decreased serum HDL-cholesterol in HIV patients with CD4+ counts of 200-499/mm3 and d"199/mm3 was found when compared with the controls. Haptoglobin, C-reactive protein and a1-acid glycoprotein were significantly increased in HIV patients with CD4+ counts of 200-499/mm3 and d"199/mm3 when compared with the controls. However, albumin was significantly reduced in HIV patients with CD4+ counts of d"199/mm3 when compared with the controls. There was direct correlation between HDL-cholesterol and the CD4+ counts, on the other hand, an inverse correlation between C-reactive protein, haptoglobin and a1-acid glycoprotein against CD4+ counts was found. CONCLUSION: A decreased HDL-cholesterol had direct correlation with the CD4+ counts in all the stages of HIV infection; however, increased haptoglobin and C-reactive protein had inverse correlation with the CD4+ counts in all the stages of HIV infection. Therefore HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein and haptoglobin may serve as indicators of disease progression in HIV infection.