[Comparative study of various biological markers in HIV 1 infection]

A study was performed on 51 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1)-infected patients with a previous history of drug abuse. By the CDC staging system for HIV infection they were mainly in advanced stages of that infection, 67% were in IV-A and 8% in IV-C1. Patients were divided in two groups, one composed of 33 individuals who needed AZT therapy and the other of those who did not need that medication (18 patients). Between 3 and 18 months several parameters were assessed on 3 different occasions, according to standard techniques: red blood cells and platelet numeration, CD4 and CD8 cell counts, HIV antigen (p24 Ag), beta 2-microglobulin, high density serum lipoproteins (HDL), and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA). In the patients treated with AZT the first bioserologic evaluation was performed before starting this therapy. Finally it was observed that p24 AG and ACA were present in 21% of the patients, all of them in advanced stages of HIV infection and under AZT therapy. A significant correlation was only found between CD4 counts and beta 2-microglobulin (R = 0.34; P = 0.0001).