Qualitative immunoglobulin abnormalities in HIV-positive patients: long-term follow-up

Clin Chem Lab Med. 1998 Jun;36(7):493-6. doi: 10.1515/CCLM.1998.082.

Abstract

We studied the immunoglobulins of a cohort of 212 HIV-positive patients followed-up for 13 years. The qualitative study of immunoglobulins by immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation distinguished three groups of patients: those with monoclonal immunoglobulins, those with minor abnormalities of immunoglobulins and those with polyclonal immunoglobulins. We characterized these groups according to age, sex, immunoglobulin isotypes, and survival curves. The results show that this population of immunoglobulinopathies has distinctive characteristics. In particular, the presence of immunoglobulin abnormalities has no significant prognostic value.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / mortality
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • HIV-2 / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Sex Distribution
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins