HTLV-III seropositivity in symptom-free Italian haemophiliacs. Correlation with consumption of commercial concentrate and abnormalities of T and B lymphocytes.
Various immunological parameters exploring both T- and B-cell functions were determined in a group of 74 symptom-free Italian haemophiliacs treated with commercial concentrate imported from the USA and were correlated with the presence in their serum of antibody to HTLV-III. There was a strong correlation between HTLV-III seropositivity and the amount of concentrate consumed. A significant correlation between HTLV-III seropositivity and T-cell alterations, such as T4/T8 ratio less than 1 and reduction in the absolute number of T4+ lymphocytes, or B-cell alterations such as hypergammaglobulinaemia and enhanced spontaneous IgG synthesis in vitro, was also observed.
M G
MG
Giudizi
R
R
Biagiotti
F
F
Almerigogna
M
M
Mazzetti
A
A
Alessi
G
G
Massai
G
G
Longo
G
G
Scano
M
M
Morfini
S
S
Romagnani
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000032:analysis
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D005719:gamma-Globulins