Thiamin deficiency in HIV-positive patients: evaluation by erythrocyte transketolase activity and thiamin pyrophosphate effect

Background and aims: The aim of the study was to determine the thiamin stat us in HIV-positive patients. Methods: Measurement of erythrocyte transketolase activity (ETK) a nd thiam in pyrophosphate (TPP) effect in 55 consecutive HIV-positive patients of a specialized outpatient clinic were grouped into five groups according to th eir CD4 counts. Comparison of results; of HIV-positive patients with age-ma tched control group of 22 healthy subjects. Results: Of the patients, 27% had a pathologically-increased TPP effect, 18 % of the patients had pathologically-low ETK. The percentage of pathologica l values of TPP effect in the patients was significantly higher compared wi th the control group. There was no statistically significant correlation be tween pathological thiamin status and stage of the disease, zidovudine ther apy or nutritional status of the patients. Conclusions: Thiamin deficiency in HIV-positive patients was found in a hig her percentage than previously reported. Thiamine deficiency is not only pr esent in advanced stages of HIV-infection, but also in clinically asymptoma tic patients. (C) 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.