Neopterin and beta-2 microglobulin levels in asymptomatic HIV infection: the predictive value of combining markers.

The concentrations of neopterin, beta-2 microglobulin, p24 antigen, anti-p24 antibody, and alpha-interferon were determined in the sera of 25 asymptomatic anti-HIV positive patients (CDC stages II and III) over a 50 month period (38 months retrospectively and 12 months prospectively). Evaluation of the data allowed the derivation of a threshold of abnormality for both neopterin and beta-2 microglobulin. Pre-AIDS (CDC groups IVa, IVc2, IVe) developed in 6 of the 26 patients within 18 months of the first abnormal value of beta-2 microglobulin, and within 12 months of the first abnormal value of neopterin. Combining the abnormal results of neopterin, beta-2 microglobulin, p24 antigen, and alpha-interferon allows prediction of progression to pre-AIDS within 18 months for most asymptomatic patients.