Related Experiment Videos
Intractable pruritus in HIV infection: immunologic characterization.
F Milazzo1, S Piconi, D Trabattoni
1Divisione di Malattie Infettive, Ospedale L. Sacco, Milan, Italy.
Allergy
|May 13, 1999
Summary
Severe pruritus in HIV patients is linked to hypereosinophilia and heightened immune system activity. This suggests a specific patient group with increased HIV viral load and a hyperactive humoral immune response.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Some nonatopic, HIV-infected patients experience severe, intractable pruritus with skin lesions and hypereosinophilia.
- This study investigates the immunovirologic aspects of this condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze immunologic and virologic parameters in HIV-infected patients with therapy-resistant pruritus.
- To compare these parameters with HIV-seropositive individuals without pruritus.
Main Methods:
- Assessed immunologic markers (cytokine production, serum levels of TNF-alpha, sCD23, IgE, IgA) and HIV viral load.
- Compared six patients with pruritus and hypereosinophilia to seven HIV-positive controls without pruritus.
Main Results:
- Patients with pruritus showed hypereosinophilia, hyper-IgE, hyper-IgA, elevated IL-4, IL-5, and sCD23.
- Reduced interferon-gamma production and augmented HIV viral load were observed in patients with pruritus.
Conclusions:
- Therapy-resistant pruritus with hypereosinophilia may define a subset of HIV-positive individuals.
- This subset exhibits hyperactivation of humoral immunity and increased HIV viral load.