NEOPTERIN AND BETA(2)-MICROGLOBULIN AS SERUM MARKERS IN A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED ANTI-HIV THERAPY TRIAL

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of the biologic immu ne activation markers neopterin and beta(2)-microglobulin in monitorin g human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients without acquire d immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) treated with isoprinosine and place bo. Serum samples obtained at the commencement of study and samples ob tained after 24 weeks were available from 277 HIV-positive patients in the Scandinavian multicentre isoprinosine trial. After 24 weeks' trea tment, the concentrations of beta(2)-microglobulin and neopterin had i ncreased both in the isoprinosine group and the placebo group. However , in the isoprinosine group the relative increase within beta(2)-micro globulin was significantly smaller. Within neopterin, the increase fro m baseline level was small and not significantly different from the ch ange in the placebo group. The beta(2)-microglobulin data might reflec t a suppressive effect of isoprinosine on the HIV-induced activation o f the cellular immune system. Because of the minor changes, there is n o real evidence of neopterin and beta(2)-microglobulin being valuable as surrogate markers in monitoring therapy effects of isoprinosine.