Use of the presence of anti-protein gag antibodies as an evolution marker of HIV infection.
The paper studies the modifications occurring in the prevalence of anti-protein gag antibodies during the evolution of the infection in a paediatric population iatrogenically infected and not submitted to antiretroviral treatment. The study was performed by annual clinical examination of children and by laboratory determinations: western-blot, p24 Ag assay, determination of lymphocyte population by flowcytometry. The predictive capacity of p17 antibodies was revealed, their occurrence after seroconversion pointing to a favourable evolution, with a longer asymptomatic period; the disappearance of these antibodies during the disease indicates a more advanced stage of the disease. The disappearance of p24 and p55 antibodies during the evolution of the disease shows a more advanced stage of the disease, both clinically and as concerning the immunosuppression degree.