Lymphocyte subset abnormalities in multitransfused HIV-negative haemophilia A patients are not due to chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Several abnormalities of immune parameters have been described in HIV-negative haemophiliacs, including changes in numbers of T4 and T8 cells, T4/T8 ratio and numbers of activated T cells. To assess the contribution of hepatitis C to these abnormalities, we compared lymphocyte subsets in 20 HIV-negative HCV-positive haemophilia A patients and in 14 non-haemophiliacs with chronic hepatitis C with those in 18 healthy controls. In haemophilia patients, higher numbers of T lymphocytes and activated T8 cells, lower numbers of B lymphocytes and a normal T4/T8 ratio were seen. These differences were either not demonstrated in hepatitis C controls or were less pronounced and in the opposite direction. We conclude that haemophilia A patients showed abnormalities in lymphocyte subsets that could not be attributed to chronic hepatitis C.
Meijer
K
K
Division of Thrombosis, Haemostasis and Rheology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. k.meijer@int.azg.nl
Van Der Meer
J
J
Smit
J W
JW
Verspiek
S P
SP
Haagsma
E B
EB
Smid
W M
WM
D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology