Immunological changes in beta-thalassemia major patients positive for HTLV-III antibodies.
Antibodies to HTLV-III were found in 6 of 206 Sicilian patients with thalassemia major, aged 1 to 30 years. None of the patients showed clinical signs related to immuno-deficiency syndromes. Immunological investigations carried out in all positive patients showed alterations similar to those found in thalassemic patients without antibodies to HTLV-III. These immunological changes could not depend on the HTLV-III infection, but could be related to the thalassemic condition.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies