Oligoclonal banding detected by urinary protein electrophoresis and immunofixation in two patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome and proteinuria.

Monoclonal and oligoclonal banding has been observed in electrophoretograms of serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and urinary protein from patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is the first report of kappa oligoclonal banding in the protein electrophoretograms for urine but not for serum of two patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Both patients had proteinuria, but only one had the nephrotic syndrome and renal failure. Serum oligoclonal banding in HIV-infected patients occurs much more frequently than in age-matched controls and may be detected before AIDS or lymphadenopathy syndrome evolves. The use of oligoclonal banding as a marker for HIV infection is currently under investigation. Urine as well as serum samples should be included in this research.