Miller TL, Orav EJ, McIntosh K, Lipshultz SE; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1993 Jun 6-11; 9: 306 (abstract no. PO-B05-1023).

Combined Program in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA.

Serum selenium may be low in malnourished HIV+ patients &, if low, may alter immune & cardiac function. METHODS: Serum selenium, weight Z score, serum albumin, CD4+ counts, & measurement of cardiac contractility & fractional shortening were obtained on HIV+ pts between 1988 & 1992. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. Statistical significance is reported at P < 0.10. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 23 HIV+ children (12 male) at a mean age of 5.3 yr (range = 0.3-28.6 yr). The mean CD4+ count was 347 cells/mm3 (16% of nl). 61% (14/23) of children had a low selenium (mean = 72 +/- 33.5 mcg/L; nl = 95-165 mcg/L). Children were malnourished (average weight Z score of -2.08 +/- 1.14 S.D. & serum albumin of 3.76 +/- 0.84 g/dL). Selenium significantly correlated with weight Z score (r = 0.4), albumin (r = 0.51) & % age-adjusted normal CD4+ counts (r = 0.4). There was a positive association between selenium & ventricular function (r = 0.18 for contractility & r = 0.11 for fractional shortening) in 19 children but were not statistically significant. We conclude that a low serum selenium level is common in malnourished patients with advanced HIV disease & is significantly associated with nutritional & immunologic status. Because selenium deficiency results in oxidative free radical damage, it may play a major role in the multisystem involvement of advanced HIV. Future studies to determine the impact of selenium deficiency & effect of replacement therapy on nutritional status, immune function & clinical course are warranted.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Avitaminosis
• Body Weight
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Child
• Child Nutrition Disorders
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Heart
• Humans
• Kwashiorkor
• Male
• Malnutrition
• Nutritional Status
• Protein-Energy Malnutrition
• Selenium
• Serum Albumin
• metabolism

Other ID:

• 93334537

UI: 102203911

From Meeting Abstracts