ANTIGLIADIN ANTIBODIES IN HIV-INFECTED CHILDREN

Immunoglobulin A-antigliadin antibodies and total immunoglobulin A wer e assessed on serum samples from 52 children infected by Human Immunod eficiency Virus (HIV). Titers of antigliadin antibodies exceeding the normal range were found in 14 children (27%). No statistically signifi cant difference was observed either between children with symptomatic or asymptomatic infection, or among children with different degrees of immunosuppression. Though total immunoglobulin A concentration increa sed with the progression of the disease, no significant correlation wa s found between antigliadin antibodies and total immunoglobulin A. Mea n antigliadin titers showed no significant difference between children with or without chronic gastrointestinal complaints. These findings s uggest that, although a raised immunoglobulin A-antigliadin activity i s a common feature of children infected by HIV, this is not merely the consequence of elevated total immunoglobulin A concentration. Moreove r, in these children a raised antigliadin antibody titer should not be regarded as a reliable marker either of disease progression or of int estinal mucosa(1) damage.