Pulmonary immunoglobulin responses to Streptococcus pneumoniae are altered but not reduced in human immunodeficiency virus-infected Malawian adults.

We tested the hypothesis that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults have a specific defect in anti-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (Pn-specific) immunoglobulin (Ig) in fluid obtained from the lower respiratory tract. Higher levels of total IgG and IgM were present in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from HIV-infected subjects than in those from HIV-uninfected subjects. Pn-specific IgG and IgM in bronchoalveolar lavage samples were not significantly different between HIV-infected and -uninfected subjects.