CYTOKINES AND ANEMIA IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

The anaemia that is a common complication of human immunodeficiency vi rus (HIV) infection bears many similarities to the anaemia of chronic disease. These similarities include an impaired erythropoietin (EPO) r esponse to anaemia, reduced concentrations of marrow progenitors givin g rise to erythroid colonies, abnormalities of reticuloendothelial iro n metabolism, and correction of anaemia with recombinant human EPO. A model has been developed in which the pathophysiologic processes produ cing the anaemia of chronic disease may be attributed to actions of th e cytokines that mediate the immune response, such as interleukin-1, t umor necrosis factor and the interferons. These cytokines are also imp licated in HIV-related anaemia. In this review, the applicability of t his cytokine mediated anaemia model to the anaemia of HIV infection is explored.