Plasma adenosine deaminase2 is a marker for human immunodeficiency virus-1 seroconversion

Plasma adenosine deaminase2 (ADA2) has recently been proposed to be a marker for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) infection. We measured ADA2 levels in plasma from two groups of white homosexual males at 6-month intervals for a total of 2.5 years. One group consisted of 6 subjects who seroconverted for HIV, and the other consisted of 8 HIV seropositive patients who progressed from asymptomatic (CDC Groups II/III) to symptomatic (CDC Group IV) disease. Seroconversion was associated with a significant increase in plasma ADA2 which persisted throughout follow-up of 1.5 years. However, disease progression in HIV seropositive patients was not associated with any significant change in plasma ADA2. In conclusion, ADA2 may represent a unique marker for HIV seroconversion which does not change with later progression to symptomatic disease.