Project Details
Description
DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the applicant's abstract.) Preliminary findings
suggest that HIV-infection produces an abnormal increase in IgE levels that
results in the development of an exaggerated allergic diathesis. Sinusitis
may be one manifestation of this acquired atopic state. The proposed study
has two major purposes. The first is to determine the actual prevalence of
sinusitis in HIV-infected patients and to confirm the strong association
between sinusitis severity and serum IgE levels. The second is to
determine if the acquired allergic diathesis is due to cytokine mediated
dysregulation of IgE production. 125 HIV-infected outpatients will be
studied and then the prevalence and severity of sinusitis will be
established by medical and radiographic criteria. Allergic reactivity will
be analyzed by measuring total serum IgE levels and allergic skin
reactivity to a battery of common allergens. The relationship of sinusitis
to other immunological parameters will be determined by measuring serum
immunoglobulin class and IgG subclass levels. The degree of
immunosuppression associated with HIV-infection will be determined by
measuring CD4 (T helper) lymphocyte numbers and the CD4/CD8 (T suppressor)
lymphocyte ratio; and their relationship to the severity of sinusitis will
be analyzed. The relationship between IgE levels and cytokine production
abnormalities will be analyzed by simultaneous measurement of in vitro
mononuclear cell production of three cytokines which are thought to
regulate IgE synthesis; gamma interferon, interleukin(IL)-4 and IL-6.
Finally, the HIV-infected, sinusitis negative population will be followed
prospectively with regular medical, immunologic and radiographic
evaluations in order to determine the association between sinusitis
severity and elevated IgE, and the role of cytokine mediated dysregulation
in this problem.
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 12/1/90 → 11/30/93 |
ASJC
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
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