Acute phase proteins, trace elements in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection in Nigerians

Abstract

The natural history of Human Immunodcficicncy Virus (HIV) infection is incompletely understood. Factors other than HIV infection alone may be required for the development of the profound immunosuppression that characterizes advanced HIV disease. Nutritional status plays nn important role in maintaining normal immunity and thus may be one of these factors. The plasma concentrations of C-rcactive protein, transferrin, selected trace elements (Mg, Zn, Fe. Cu. Cd, Se and Cr,), total protein and albumin were determined in 25 asymptomatic HIV-infected Nigerian subjects and 30 age matched HIV seronegative controls using single radial immunodiffusion and spectrophotometry methods. The mean values of Cu (73.2 +23.9 ng/dl), Mg (9.83 + 5.5 mg/dl), Fc (126+ 21 f.ig/L), Cd (24.6 + 7.2ng/L), Se (22.0+12.2j.ig/dl) and Cr (19.0+ 5.2|.ig/L) were low in asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects when compared with the controls (Cu= 119.3+30.8jig/dl; Mg = 14.5+4.6mg/L: Fc=155+8.8|Ag/ dl; Cd - 33.1 +8.3ng/L; Se =30.9+8.3|Ag/dl; Cr =32.1 +7.8jig/ L). The level ofZn was similar in asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (5.1 + 1.9mg/dl) and the controls (4.6+1.7mg/dl). The value of albumin in asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (3.43+0.7g/dl) was significantly low when compared with the controls (4.04+0.52g/dl). Significant correlation existed between albumin and Mg in asymptomatic HIV subjects (r = + 0.758, p<0.001). The mean value of C-rcactive protein was significantly higher in HIV- infected subjects compared with the controls while the level of transferrin in HIV-infected subjects (92.86 + 26.3mg/cII) did not show any significant difference when compared with the controls (84.36 + 16.9 mg/dl). This study revealed the deficiencies of trace elements in asymptomatic HIV infection and therefore suggests dietary supplementation of these trace elements in the infected subjects.