Quantitative measures of human immunodeficiency virus-specific antibodies predict progression to AIDS

Studies examining specific antibodies directed against antigenic components of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as potential markers of progression to AIDS, have reported inconsistent results. We used reflectance densitometry and survival analysis to determine whether single quantitative measures of HIV-specific antibodies predicted progression to AIDS in a prospective cohort of 159 HIV-infected homosexual men. Lowered baseline levels of p24 antibody and p24/gp41 antibody ratio were independent predictors of progression to AIDS and retained statistical significance after simultaneously controlling for CD4:CD8 ratio, age, use of zidovudine, and clinical symptoms. Quantitative measures of p24 antibody and p24/gp41 antibody ratio warrant further study with regards to their clinical application as markers of HIV disease progression.