Tryptophan degradation in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus.

Tryptophan and kynurenine were measured retrospectively in sera of 11 male patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (Walter Reed stages 4 and 6). Tryptophan levels are significantly reduced to less than 50% in patients with HIV infection and kynurenine levels significantly elevated when compared to sex and age matched controls. The decrease of tryptophan levels might contribute to neurologic symptoms often associated with HIV infection. Since interferon-gamma induces degradation of tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway, the present results may be consistent with enhanced endogenous production of interferon-gamma in advanced HIV infection.