EVALUATION OF HIV P24 ANTIGEN, BETA2-MICROGLOBULIN, NEOPTERIN, SOLUBLE CD4, SOLUBLE CD8, AND SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH AIDS OR AIDS-RELATED COMPLEX TREATED WITH 2',3'-DIDEOXYINOSINE (DDL)

Circulating HIV P24 antigen, beta2-microglobulin, neopterin, soluble CD4, soluble CD8, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor were measured in 13 zidovudine-intolerant patients (8 with ARC and 5 with AIDS) treated with dideoxyinosine (ddI). Measurements were made at baseline and at several intervals during therapy. Mean levels of HIV P24 antigen decreased early and significantly (P < 0.01) after 2 weeks of ddI administration and remained low at weeks 8 and 12. In addition, mean SCD8 levels decreased late and significantly (P < 0.02) after 16 weeks of ddI treatment and remained low at 24 weeks. In contrast, ddI administration had no substantial effect on mean levels of beta2-microglobulin, neopterin, soluble CD4, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor. ddI administration appears to have been associated with early reduction of HIV P24 antigen levels and later reduction of SCD8 mean levels in these patients.