Non-reliability of Beta-2 Microglobulin and Neopterin as Short-term Immunological Markers of HIV Progression

Abstract

Background: The conventional markers for HIV monitoring in Nigeria are viral load and CD4⁺ count. However, studies have reported the reliability of Beta 2 microglobulin (B2M) and Neopterin as effective prognostic markers that are less expensive and very convenient to use. This study was designed to investigate possible role of B2M and Neopterin in HIV patients’ management in Nigeria.

Method: A case series descriptive study was carried out in a group of Forty (40) HIV seropositive subjects who were yet to commence therapy in order to assess the pattern of changes in the levels of B2M, Neopterin and CD4+ T cell count when compared with levels after subjects were followed up for a period of 3months into therapy. B2M and neopterin were measured by ELISA method and CD4 count by flow cytometry.

Result: Concentrations of both Neopterin and B2M correlated significantly with each other (p < 0.05), but did not correlate with CD4 count (p > 0.05). Moreover, no significant difference was observed in the mean CD4 count and B2M concentration of subjects at baseline and follow-up, but there was a significant difference in the concentrations of Neopterin (p < 0.05). With the classification of subjects into the therapy and the non-therapy group, significant differences were observed in the concentration of CD4 count, whereas there were no significant differences in the concentrations of B2M and Neopterin at baseline and follow-up between the group on therapy and the therapy naïve group.

Conclusion:This study shows that B2M and Neopterin may not be adequate or reliable in monitoring short term (≤3 months) improvement with therapy in HIV/AIDS