Total Serum IgE Levels, Viral Load and CD4+ and CD8+ T Lymphocytes in Children with Perinatally Acquired HIV in Brooklyn, New York.

OBJECTIVE

Elevated serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels are associated with progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and altered T cell regulation. High serum IgE levels may be a clinical indicator of disease in HIV+ adults; however, few studies in children have been reported. The aim of this study sought to determine whether there exists a correlation between serum IgE levels, viral load, or CD4+ and CD8+ T cell in children living with perinatally acquired HIV (CPHIV) in Brooklyn, N.Y.

METHODS

Pediatric patients (N=6, 67% female) diagnosed with HIV infection on anti-retroviral therapy. Age of entry (time 1) was 1-5 years old; follow up (time 2) was six years later. The primary analysis compared specific variables: total serum IgE (IU/mL), viral load (RNA copy/mL), CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells (%).

RESULTS

Percentages of lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) and serum IgE levels increased, but CD4/CD8 ratio and viral load decreased from time 1 to time 2. However, only changes in CD8+ T cells were significant (mean difference: -8.33(5.72), P=0.031) (Wilcoxon signed-rank test). At time 2, mean differences were not significant when subjects were stratified according to positive/negative serum IgE status or high/low viral load.

CONCLUSION

In CPHIV, CD8+ T cells significantly increased over time, confirming their importance as a marker for disease progression. However, the relevance of high serum IgE levels in CPHIV remains unclear. Understanding unique biomarkers in CPHIV is important for early life HIV cure strategies.