Antioxidants and peroxidation products in the blood of HIV-1 infected patients with HIV associated skin diseases

The objective of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that HIV infected patients are in oxidative imbalance. In an open study we analyzed enzymic, and small molecular, lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants, as well as lipid peroxidation products in the blood of HIV infected patients. All patients were seen at the Department of Dermatology, Frankfurt University Hospital, Germany and treated for HIV associated skin problems. Twenty-six HIV-1 infected patients (T helper cells > 200/ul = group A, T helper cells < 200/ul = group B), aged 24-49 years, were investigated; their laboratory parameters were compared with controls of a comparable age group. Antioxidant deficiencies and elevated concentrations of peroxidation products were suspected in the study participants prior to data collection