Document 3048
 DOCN  M94A3048
 TI    Skin tests as an immunosuppression marker in HIV infection.
 DT    9412
 AU    Viana L; Pardini R; Toledo Junior AC; Jeronymo M; Astete F; Greco DB;
       Antunes CM; UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):165 (abstract no. PB0085). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369527
 AB    OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the skin tests as an immunosuppression marker in
       HIV infection in relation to absolute CD4+ T-lymphocytes (CD4+) count
       and clinical presentation. METHODS: eighty-six HIV infected individuals
       classified according to CDC criteria (1993) were evaluated
       retrospectively for absolute CD4+ count (manual immunomagnetic
       quantification method) and skin test panel (PPD 5U, Candida,
       Streptokinase and Montenegro). They were divided according to the skin
       tests reaction: Reactors (at least 1 test with induration > or = 5 mm)
       and Not Reactors (induration < 5 mm or no induration). They were further
       divided in groups according to: Clinical Immunodeficiency: Group 1 (CDC
       categories B and C), Group 2 (category A), and Laboratory
       Immunodeficiency: Group 3 (CD4+ less than 200) and Group 4 (CD4+ greater
       than 200). RESULTS: the sensitivity of the skin tests panel (not
       reactors), when compared with Clinical Immunodeficiency (Group 1), was
       88.6% and with Laboratory Immunodeficiency (Group 3) was 96.9%. The
       specificity was 31.5% and 30.9%, respectively. The positive predictive
       value, on this population was 57.4% and 45.6%, and the negative
       predictive value 72.2% and 94.4%, respectively. DISCUSSION AND
       CONCLUSIONS: the skin test panel had a good correlation with the
       immunodeficiency, showing a high sensitivity and negative predictive
       value, mainly with the laboratory definition. It could be useful in
       places with deficient laboratory facilities, where CD4+ count is not
       available. A larger study is necessary to confirm these findings and to
       evaluate the skin tests as an associate surrogate marker of
       HIV-infection progression.
 DE    Comparative Study  Human  HIV
       Infections/CLASSIFICATION/DIAGNOSIS/*IMMUNOLOGY  Immune
       Tolerance/IMMUNOLOGY  *Intradermal Tests  *Leukocyte Count  Predictive
       Value of Tests  Retrospective Studies  T4 Lymphocytes/*IMMUNOLOGY
       MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).