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Immunoglobulin E levels in relationship to HIV‐1 disease, route of infection, and vitamin E status
Author(s) -
MiguezBurbano M. J.,
ShorPosner G.,
Fletcher M. A.,
Lu Y.,
Moreno J. N.,
Carcamo C.,
Page B.,
Quesada J.,
Sauberlich H.,
Baum M. K.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1995.tb05073.x
Subject(s) - immunoglobulin e , immunology , medicine , antibody , immune system , immunopathology
Our recent studies have demonstrated that in early HIV‐1 infection, elevation of plasma immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels precedes the decline of CD4 cell count and is influenced by vitamin E status. In order to further investigate the role of IgE elevation in HIV‐1 infection, we determined IgE levels in HIV‐1‐seropositive and ‐seronegative intravenous drug users (IDUs) ( n = 38), in relationship to cellular and humoral immune function, liver enzymes, and vitamin E status. To examine the possible impact of the route of HIV‐1 infection on IgE levels, comparisons between the cohorts of the HIV‐1‐seropositive and ‐seronegative IDUs and homosexual men ( n = 45) were also conducted. All HIV‐1‐seropositive participants had significantly higher ( P = 0.003) IgE levels than the HIV‐1‐seronegative subjects. The HIV‐1‐seropositive IDUs, moreover, demonstrated significantly higher ( P = 0.01) IgE levels than HIV‐1‐seropositive homosexual men, despite similar CD4 cell counts. Stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate the possible variables contributing to the IgE variation. HIV‐1 status ( P = 0.0009), intravenous drug use ( P = 0.014), CD8 cell counts ( P = 0.0001), plasma level of vitamin E ( P = 0.006), and alcohol intake ( P = 0.047) were significant, accounting for 71% of the IgE elevation. These findings suggest that IgE may serve as a sensitive marker to reflect the evolution of HIV‐1 disease in individuals from different risk groups.