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Immune complexes in pediatric human immunodeficiency virus infection
M Ellaurie1, T Calvelli, A Rubinstein
1Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461.
American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Circulating immune complexes (CIC) are common in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. These CIC are often deficient in complement, potentially leading to underestimation by certain detection methods.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Circulating immune complexes (CIC) are implicated in various autoimmune and infectious diseases.
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can lead to immune dysregulation, including potential alterations in CIC.
- Assessing CIC in pediatric HIV is crucial for understanding disease pathogenesis and immune status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalence and characteristics of CIC in children with HIV.
- To investigate the association of CIC with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies.
- To evaluate the complement levels within CIC in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of CIC using C1q and Raji cell assays in 30 children with HIV.
- Detection of free serum antibodies to EBV.
- Quantification of complement levels in enriched CIC.
Main Results:
- Elevated CIC detected in 70% (C1q assay) and 93% (Raji cell assay) of HIV-infected children.
- 80% of patients with elevated CIC had EBV antibodies associated with CIC, not free in serum.
- Enriched CIC from these children showed low complement levels.
Conclusions:
- CIC are prevalent in children with HIV and are frequently associated with EBV antibodies.
- The observed deficiency in complement within CIC suggests a specific characteristic of humoral immunodeficiency in pediatric HIV.
- Complement-precipitating methods may underestimate CIC levels in HIV-infected children due to complement deficiency.