ANTIOXIDANTS AND PEROXIDATION PRODUCTS IN THE BLOOD OF HIV-1-INFECTEDPATIENTS WITH HIV-ASSOCIATED SKIN DISEASES

The objective of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that HIV infected patients are in oxidative imbalance. In an open study we ana lyzed enzymic, and small molecular, lipophilic, and hydrophilic antiox idants, as well as lipid peroxidation products in the blood of HIV inf ected patients. All patients were seen at the Department of Dermatolog y, Frankfurt University Hospital, Germany and treated for HIV associat ed skin problems. Twenty-six HIV-1 infected patients (T helper cells > 200/ul = group A, T helper cells < 200/ul = group B), aged 24-49 year s, were investigated; their laboratory parameters were compared with c ontrols of a comparable age group. Antioxidant deficiencies and elevat ed concentrations of peroxidation products were suspected in the study participants prior to data collection. A statistically significant de crease in total plasma glutathions, plasma thiols, and plasma ascorbat e was observed in the patients in group A. In addition, erythrocyte gl utathione peroxidase activity and serum selenium were significantly lo w in patients group B. The plasma lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxy nonenal was significantly increased in patients group A and B. In conc lusion HIV infected patients are in oxidative imbalance and there is e vidence of molecular damage, which manifests early following HIV infec tion.