Objective: Monoclonal gammopathies (MGs) associated with HIV infection are frequent but their evolution and significance are uncertain in this population at high risk of lymphoproliferative disorder. Our aim was to describe the long-term evolution of MG in HIV-infected subjects under antiretroviral therapy.
Methods: Retrospective study of HIV-1-infected adults, with a monoclonal (M) protein detected by serum protein electrophoresis and confirmed by immunofixation. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with peak disappearance.
Results: Between September 1997 and November 2012, 1219 serum protein electrophoreses were performed on our HIV cohort, and 137 (11.3%) MGs were detected. Seventy-seven subjects met the inclusion criteria: 68% male, median age 41 years, 47% AIDS stage, median CD4 count 237 per cubic millimeter, 81% uncontrolled HIV infection with HIV viral load over 400 copies per milliliter, 32% chronic hepatitis C, and 9% chronic hepatitis B. Eighteen subjects were not included because of previous or concomitant hemopathy. With a median follow-up of 6.8 years (interquartile range, 3.9-9.1), 66.2% of subjects showed a peak disappearance. In multivariate analysis, MG disappearance was associated with HIV virologic control (odds ratio, 5.98; 95% confidence interval: 1.63 to 21.87; P = 0.007) and the absence of hepatitis C virus replication at the end of follow-up (odds ratio, 10.16; 95% confidence interval: 2.36 to 43.69; P = 0.002). One subject developed a myeloma 3 years after the diagnosis of an IgA kappa MG.
Conclusions: MG associated with HIV infection concerned a young population and had favorable evolution on antiretroviral therapy in most cases. M protein disappearance was associated with HIV virologic control and the absence of chronic hepatitis C virus.