[Quantitative and qualitative changes in the immunoglobulins of HIV-infected children]

In HIV-infected children impairment of B lymphocytes appears to precede the T cell deficiency, elevated but dysfunctional immunoglobulins being a hallmark of pediatric infection. Electrophoretic and immunochemical data obtained with samples from 91 cases of AIDS in children aged 7-36 months in P2 clinical stage are reported. In 21 children successive samples were obtained at each 3-4 months for a one-year follow-up. In electrophoresis low albumin level and marked increase of globulins level were noted. In immunodiffusion all Ig classes but especially IgG were increased. HI measles antibodies titers in all these samples were negative or very low in spite of measles vaccination positive record. Distinct from adult AIDS where absolute number of pan T and CD4 positive lymphocytes are good predictive markers, in pediatric AIDS estimation of quantitative and qualitative changes of immunoglobulins is useful for clinical diagnosis and follow-up of patients.