Progressive change in lymphocyte distribution and degree of hypergammaglobulinemia with age in children with hemophilia.
Fifty asymptomatic, pediatric hemophiliacs were examined for distribution of T-cell subsets, responsiveness to mitogen stimulation, interleukin-2 production, hypergammaglobulinemia, and the presence of antibody to virus including the human T-lymphotrophic virus type III (HTLV-III). Hemophilia A patients receiving factor VIII concentrate as replacement therapy had the most pronounced changes including decreased T4/T8 ratios and lower in vitro responsiveness to both phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen. Hemophilia A patients treated with cryoprecipitate and hemophilia B patients did not demonstrate these changes. Regardless of replacement therapy, hemophiliacs demonstrated a progressive decrease in the T4/T8 ratio and a progressive increase in the degree of IgG hypergammaglobulinemia as they aged. The amount of factor or cryoprecipitate or exposure to virus did not influence the T4/T8 ratio. These changes appear to be a result of chronic product exposure, which becomes more pronounced with increasing age.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D002836:Hemophilia B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008934:Mitogens; D005169:Factor VIII