Document 3260
 DOCN  M94A3260
 TI    Complement activation in HIV infected patients with cryoglobulinemia.
 DT    9412
 AU    Schmit JL; Redeker S; Fuentes V; Prin L; Infectious Disease Unit,
       University Hospital Amiens, France.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):117 (abstract no. PA0088). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369315
 AB    The aim of the study was to investigate complement activation in HIV
       infected patients with cryoglobulinemia. In a previous study we have
       noticed that HIV infected patients with cryoglobulinemia had low
       activation fragments of the classical (C4d) and the common (C3d)
       pathway. The presence of cryoproteins in these patients suggested
       strongly complement cryoactivation. We performed in 5 different
       conditions (4 degrees C, 20 degrees C, 37 degrees C, EDTA and citrate)
       complement measurement in 10 HIV seropositive patients with
       cryoglobulinemia. Four patients were IVDU, 2 homosexual males, 3
       heterosexual individuals, 1 blood recepients. Mean delay from first HIV
       seropositivity was 5.1 years (0.8). Five patients were seropositive for
       more than 4 years. Mean CD4 count was 252/mm3 (20-591). One patients has
       had opportunistic infection. Seven patients received anti-retroviral
       drugs (AZT 3, switch for DDI 4). Viral co-infection, characterized by
       isolation of viral sequences from HBV or HCV, HBV serological profils
       suggesting evolutive hepatitis or positive viremia for CMV, was present
       in 90% patients. All patients had low C4d levels and lowered normal C3d
       levels with normal hemolytic complement rate in each tested condition.
       These results suggest in vivo classical and common complement pathway
       activation. Our hypothesis is that complement pathway activation could
       be an early disease progression marker. Further studies are mandatory to
       establish the relationship between classical complement pathway
       activation and disease progression. The classical complement pathway has
       a key role in virus neutralisation. Viral infection or co-infection
       plays an important role in complement activation. Persistance of viral
       infection could be derived from inefficiency of the complement system
       and predispose to auto-immunity.
 DE    Biological Markers  *Complement Activation  Complement Pathway,
       Classical  Complement 3d/METABOLISM  Complement 4/METABOLISM
       Cryoglobulinemia/*COMPLICATIONS/*IMMUNOLOGY  Hepatitis B/COMPLICATIONS
       Hepatitis C/COMPLICATIONS  Human  HIV
       Infections/*COMPLICATIONS/*IMMUNOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY  Male  Neutralization
       Tests  Peptide Fragments/METABOLISM  MEETING ABSTRACT

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