A non-specific biomarker of disease activity in HIV/AIDS patients from resource-limited environments
dc.contributor.author | Bipath, Priyesh | |
dc.contributor.author | Levay, Peter Ferenc | |
dc.contributor.author | Olorunju, Steve | |
dc.contributor.author | Viljoen, Margaretha | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2016-05-19T06:45:46Z | |
dc.date.available | 2016-05-19T06:45:46Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2015-06 | |
dc.description.abstract | BACKGROUND : A general non-specific marker of disease activity that could alert the clinician and prompt further investigation would be of value in patients with HIV/AIDS, especially in resource limited environments. OBJECTIVE : To investigate the potential of neopterin as non-specific biomarker in patients with advanced HIV/AIDS. METHODS : Cross-sectional study in 105 HIV positive patients (75 on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Neopterin was assessed by enzyme linked immune-absorbent assay and cytokines by flow cytometry. RESULTS : Neopterin levels were significantly higher (p<0.001) for the total patient than for the control group. Significant correlations between neopterin and plasma indicators of inflammation showed neopterin to be a good indicator of active inflammatory status and of the effect of HAART on the immune system. Neopterin was superior to C-reactive protein and to individual cytokines as indicator of immune deficiency. Increased neopterin levels were associated with a decline in albumin, haemoglobin and the albumin/globulin ratio, and with increases in red cell distribution width. CONCLUSIONS : Plasma neopterin is a good non-specific biomarker of disease activity in HIV/AIDS patients. It is a good indicator of inflammatory activity, perpetuation of inflammation-associated co-morbidities, degree of immune deficiency and has predictive value for underlying disease, and for monitoring the HAART response. | en_ZA |
dc.description.department | Internal Medicine | en_ZA |
dc.description.department | Physiology | en_ZA |
dc.description.department | Psychiatry | en_ZA |
dc.description.librarian | am2016 | en_ZA |
dc.description.sponsorship | The Medical Research Council of South African and the South African Sugar Association. | en_ZA |
dc.description.uri | http://www.bioline.org.br/hs | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation | Bipath, P, Levay, P, Olorunju, S & Viljoen, M 2015, 'A non-specific biomarker of disease activity in HIV/AIDS patients from resource-limited environments', African Health Sciences, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 334-343. | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn | 1680-6905 (print) | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1729-0503 (online) | |
dc.identifier.other | 10.4314/ahs.v15i2.5 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/52711 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
dc.publisher | Makerere University Medical School | en_ZA |
dc.rights | Makerere University Medical School | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Neopterin | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Biomarkers | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Immune activation | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) | en_ZA |
dc.title | A non-specific biomarker of disease activity in HIV/AIDS patients from resource-limited environments | en_ZA |
dc.type | Article | en_ZA |