title: Serological markers of autoimmunity in patients with hemophilia A: the role of hepatitis C virus infection, alpha-interferon and factor VIII treatment in skewing the immune system toward autoreactivity.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the immune system of patients with hemophilia A is skewed toward an aspecific activation and to identify the causative factors. It is well known that an immune derangement does exist in patients with hemophilia A. At least three factors potentially play a role: hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, alpha-interferon therapy and the administration of factor VIII (FVIII). Sixty human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients with severe or moderate hemophilia A were studied retrospectively. The serological markers of autoimmunity were evaluated and the results correlated with anti-HCV antibodies, FVIII treatment and alpha-interferon therapy. The role of these factors in the development of the anti-FVIII antibody was estimated concomitantly. The prevalence of autoantibodies and anti-FVIII antibodies was higher in HCV-positive than in HCV-negative patients before any treatment, although the difference was not statistically significant. The administration of FVIII further influenced the development of autoantibodies both in HCV-negative and HCV-positive patients, with no difference being observed between the two groups. As expected, fewer HCV-negative than HCV-positive patients developed anti-FVIII antibodies after administration of FVIII (31.8% versus 38%, respectively). Therapy with alpha-interferon did not seem to enhance significantly the risk of developing autoantibodies nor anti-FVIII antibodies. We observed a high prevalence of humoral signs of autoimmunity among patients with hemophilia A. Treatment with FVIII concentrate is probably the most important triggering factor. Monitoring these patients for autoimmune manifestations is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Padua University Medical School, Italy. faviane@tin.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vianello
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tison
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tagariello
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zerbinati
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zanon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scarano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girolami
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D005169:Factor VIII