[Polyclonal B cell activation in infection caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)]

87 patients with anti-HIV antibodies were divided into three groups based on the classification of the Centers for Disease Control and the following parameters reflecting polyclonal B cell activation were evaluated in these patients: immunoglobulin levels, circulating immune complexes and occurrence of autoantibodies. The results reported here indicate that intense polyclonal B cell activation occurs in both asymptomatic (CDC 2) and symptomatic patients (CDC 3 and CDC 4). Moreover, serological abnormalities were detected with similar frequency in the three groups studied.