Open AccessSerum β2-Microglobulin at HIV-1 Seroconversion As a Predictor of Severe Immunodeficiency During 10 Years of Followup
Author(s) -
Andrew Phillips,
Caroline Sabin,
Jonathan Elford,
Margarita Bofill,
Anthony Timms,
George Janossy,
Christine A. Lee
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes and human retrovirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2331-6993
pISSN - 1077-9450
DOI - 10.1097/00042560-199611010-00008
Subject(s) - beta 2 microglobulin , seroconversion , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , immunodeficiency , antiretroviral therapy , aids related complex , immunology , relative risk , gastroenterology , viral disease , confidence interval , immune system , viral load
In order to examine the relevance of early immune activation to the long-term course of HIV infection, we evaluated the ability of the serum beta 2-microglobulin level measured in 63 haemophiliacs on average 4.9 months from HIV seroconversion to predict the rate of development of server immunodeficiency (CD4) lymphocyte count 50/mm3) or AIDS over the following 10 years. Patients with higher beta 2-microglobulin values tended to develop severe immunodeficiency/AIDS more rapidly than those with lower levels (relative risk 1.68 per 1 mg/L increase; 95% CI 1.26-2.26; p = 0.0004). Older patients also progressed more rapidly, and these two factors acted independently (relative risk 1.65 per 1 mg/L increase; 95% CI 1.21-2.72; p = 0.002 for beta 2-microglobulin and 1.22 per 10 years; 95% CI 1.01-1.48; p = 0.04 for age). These results provide further evidence that the long-term course of HIV infection can, to some extent, be predicted soon after infection. Older patients with high beta 2-microglobulin levels warrant close monitoring and consideration for early antiretroviral therapy.