BACKGROUND: Contradictory results on oxidative burst activity in HIV infect
ion have been reported in the literature,
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Neutrophil oxidative metabolism was evaluated in 160
HIV-infected patients, by measuring the intracellular production of rhodami
ne.
RESULTS: Neutrophil oxidative metabolism was decreased, This impairment was
related to viral load, CD4(+) lymphocyte counts, neutrophil counts and the
rapy.
CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-infected patients, neutrophil oxidative metabolic activ
ity decreases with disease progression. This may contribute to secondary op
portunistic infections.