SERUM MALONDIALDEHYDE IN HIV-SEROPOSITIVE CHILDREN

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with oxidat ive stress as it has been demonstrated in adult seropositive individua ls. We show in this study that serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrati on of HIV infected children was significantly higher than in control c hildren. Moreover, a statistically significant decreased serum antioxi dant status was detected in HIV infected children when compared with c ontrols. No correlation was found in HIV infected children between the ir clinical or immunological categories, CD4+ lymphocyte count or CD4/CD8+ ratio, and MDA concentration or serum antioxidant status. Newbor n from HIV seropositive mothers had also a higher MDA concentration in cord blood serum than their corresponding controls from HIV seronegat ive mothers, whereas no difference could be established in the serum a ntioxidant status between both groups. No apparent correlation could b e established between birth weight, gestational age or APGAR test valu es, and MDA in any of these groups. The results presented, (i.e., the increase of MDA concentration in HIV seropositive infants and children , and the decrease in serum total antioxidants in HN seropositive chil dren) confirm the involvement of oxidative stress in the pathophysiolo gy of this infection also in childhood. Because of the importance of o xidative stress and antioxidants for HIV viral replication, the adequa cy of an adjuvant therapy with antioxidants should be considered; an a dequate candidate for it could be N-acetyl-cysteine. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.