Plasma lactoferrin levels are decreased in end-stage AIDS patients

The antimicrobial protein lactoferrin (Lf) is present in plasma and in muco sal secretions. Using ELISA we analysed plasma and saliva of HIV-infected p atients, patients with AIDS, and healthy controls for the presence of secre ted Lf. The plasma Lf levels of AIDS patients (classification C3) were sign ificantly lower (p < 0.001) as compared to asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV infected patients, or controls. In addition, plasma Lf levels closely corr elated with neutrophilic granulocyte counts in the HIV-infected patients. T hus, basal plasma Lf levels are likely the result of Lf release by neutroph ilic granulocytes. The Candida titres present in the oral cavity were deter mined in a part of the HIV-infected patient group, As it appeared, the pres ence of this opportunistic pathogen always coincided with low levels of sal ivary Lf levels. We conclude that Lf, as part of the nonspecific immune sys tem, might play an important role in the first line of defense against oppo rtunistic microbial infections in AIDS patients.