Lipid and acute-phase protein alterations in HIV-1 infected patients in the early stages of infection: correlation with CD4+ lymphocytes

lipid and acute-phase protein alterations have been described in various infection diseases, and they have been recorded during the early stages of hiv infection. lipid and acute-phase protein profiles also have been correlated with cellular immunological abnormalities. to document these correlations during hiv infection, we studied 75 hiv-infected patients and 26 hiv-negative controls. patients were classified according to the criteria proposed by the walter reed army institute: as wr-1 (cd4 lymphocytes, 1154 ± 268/mm3), wr-2 (cd4, 793 ± 348/mm3) and wr3/4 (cd4, 287±75 mm3). triglycerides, total cholesterol and hdl-cholesterol concentrations were measured by enzymatic methods. immunoglobulins (iga and igg) and acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin, a1-acid glycoprotein, c-reactive protein and transferrin) were determined by immunonephelometry. haptoglobin levels were significantly increased in hiv-positive patients and correlated with the progression of hiv-infection (control