Monoclonal gammopathies in asymptomatic HIV-seropositive donors

Twenty two HIV antibody ELISA reactive serum samples from blood donors were subjected to Western blot (WB) test, out of which 12 sera were found WB positive, five were WB-indeterminate and five were WB-negative. Electrophoresis on agar gel and polyacrylamide gel (PAG) was done in all ELISA reactive sera. Two of the 12 WB-positive and one of the five WB-indeterminate donors showed presence of monoclonal (M) immunoglobulin component and which was identified as of IgG isotype on immunoelectrophoresis (IEP). Sera with 'M' component demonstrated decreased levels of IgA and IgM whereas other sera showed polyclonal increase of immunoglobulins. The paraproteins observed in these patients are possibly a reflection of B-cell overactivation.