[The oxidative metabolic activity of the polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus]. / Actividad metabólica oxidativa de los leucocitos polimorfonucleares neutrófilos en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

BACKGROUND: Contradictory results on oxidative burst activity in HIV infection have been reported in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Neutrophil oxidative metabolism was evaluated in 160 HIV-infected patients, by measuring the intracellular production of rhodamine. RESULTS: Neutrophil oxidative metabolism was decreased. This impairment was related to viral load, CD4+ lymphocyte counts, neutrophil counts and therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-infected patients, neutrophil oxidative metabolic activity decreases with disease progression. This may contribute to secondary opportunistic infections.