Lipid and acute-phase protein alterations in HIV-1 infected patients in the early stages of infection: correlation with CD4+ lymphocytes

Lipid and acute-phase protein alterations have been described in various infection diseases, and they have been recorded during the early stages of HIV infection. Lipid and acute-phase protein profiles also have been correlated with cellular immunological abnormalities. To document these correlations during HIV infection, we studied 75 HIV-infected patients and 26 HIV-negative controls. Patients were classified according to the criteria proposed by the Walter Reed army Institute: as WR-1 (CD4lymphocytes, 1154+268/mm3), WR-2 (CD4,793+348/mm3) and WR3/4(CD4287+75mm3). Triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations were measurede by enzymatic methods. Immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) and acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin, &,-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein and transferrin) were determined by immunonephelometry. Haptoglobin levels were significantly increased in HIV-positive patients and correlated with the progression of HIV-infection (control