QUALITATIVE IMMUNOGLOBULIN ABNORMALITIES IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

We studied the immunoglobulins of a cohort of 212 HIV-positive patient s followed-up for 13 years. The qualitative study of immunoglobulins b y immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation distinguished three groups of patients: those with monoclonal immunoglobulins, those with minor a bnormalities of immunoglobulins and those with polyclonal immunoglobul ins. We characterized these groups according to age, sex, immunoglobul in isotypes, and survival curves. The results show that this populatio n of immunoglobulinopathies has distinctive characteristics. In partic ular, the presence of immunoglobulin abnormalities has no significant prognostic value.