PLWH had a higher median AAT concentration than uninfected controls [1.4 (interquartile range (IQR) 1.3-1.6) versus 1.3 (IQR 1.2-1.4) g/L; P < 0.0001] and HIV infection was independently associated with higher AAT concentration [adjusted β = 0.10 g/L; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08; 0.11 g/L; P < 0.001].
These results suggest that deficiency in A1AT may be a risk factor for acquisition of HIV infection, but physiological A1AT concentrations do not affect disease progression after infection occurs.