[Prognostic significance of antibodies to HIV nuclear proteins in patients with the lymphadenopathy syndrome]. / Prognostische Bedeutung von Antikörpern gegen HIV-Kernproteine bei Patienten mit Lymphadenopathie-Syndrom.

ABSTRACT

A total of 219 sera from HIV-infected patients were tested by a competitive immunoassay for the presence of antibodies to env and core protein. Whereas antibodies to the HIV envelope protein (gp41) were detected in all patients, only 84% of the patients with latent infection, 73% of the patients with LAS and 48% of the patients with AIDS had antibodies to the core protein (p 24). The prognostic importance of the decline of antibody reactivity to HIV core protein was further investigated in patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome or AIDS-related complex and correlated with other serological and immunological parameters. In those patients with no detectable anti-core reactivity, we found more frequently pathological and significantly higher serum levels of beta-2-microglobulin and IgA, but significantly lower numbers of leucocytes and lymphocytes and T4/T8 ratio than in patients with both gp41 env and p24 core antibodies. These results demonstrate that the determination of antibodies to HIV core proteins in sera of HIV-infected patients, especially with lymphadenopathy syndrome or AIDS-related complex, appears to be of great value for monitoring prognosis and disease activity.