Increased production of malondialdehyde in patients with HIV infection

The mean plasma content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in 30 patients in different stages of HIV infection was found to be about 30% higher than that in controls. The phenomenon was not correlated to the degree of immunodeficiency and was noted early in the course of the disease. This indicates a higher degree of basal lipid peroxidation, which might contribute to the tissue damage seen in these patients. A new reverse phase liquid chromatography method was used for quantitative measurements of MDA in plasma after reaction of this compound with thiobarbituric acid.