Antigliadin antibodies in HIV-infected children

Immunoglobulin A-antigliadin antibodies and total immunoglobulin A were assessed on serum samples from 52 children infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Titers of antigliadin antibodies exceeding the normal range were found in 14 children (27%). No statistically significant difference was observed either between children with symptomatic or asymptomatic infection, or among children with different degrees of immunosuppression. Though total immunoglobulin A concentration increased with the progression of the disease, no significant correlation was found between antigliadin antibodies and total immunoglobulin A. Mean antigliadin titers showed no significant difference between children with or without chronic gastrointestinal complaints. These findings suggest that, although a raised immunoglobulin A-antigliadin activity is a common feature of children infected by HIV, this is not merely the consequence of elevated total immunoglobulin A concentration. Moreover, in these children a raised antigliadin antibody titer should not be regarded as a reliable marker either of disease progression or of intestinal mucosa damage.