Haptoglobin polymorphism in a HIV-1 seropositive Brazilian population.

Background: Haptoglobin (Hp) is a plasma protein with antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Three main genotypes/phenotypes (Hp1-1, Hp2-1, Hp2-2) show distinctive efficiencies in their activities and have been related to susceptibility and outcome in different diseases, including HIV infection.

Objective: To compare Hp genotype distribution between HIV-1 seropositive patients and healthy controls.

Methods: 387 Brazilian HIV-1 seropositive patients, subclassified as A, B, and C according to the Centers for Disease Control, were compared with 142 healthy controls. The influence of the polymorphism on iron status (serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation), acute phase proteins (Hp, C reactive protein, fibrinogen, albumin), the HIV-1 viral load, and CD4+ T lymphocyte counts was examined.

Results: Apart from finding lower Hp concentrations among individuals with genotype Hp2-2, no other significant difference was observed.

Conclusions: No association was found between Hp genotype and either HIV status or indices of HIV progression.