Sera and questionnaire data from a population-based random sample of healthy adults was used to evaluate factors influencing neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) values. Both neopterin and beta 2m levels increased with age and were higher among white than blacks (mean values for whites and blacks: neopterin, 5.06 vs 4.49 nmol/L; beta 2m, 1.36 vs 1.28 mg/L). Gender differences were noted for beta 2m but not neopterin values (beta 2m males vs females: 1.37 vs 1.29 mg/L). Neopterin values were lower among current smokers than among nonsmokers (4.32 vs 5.16 nmol/L) and were higher among users of antihistamines (5.46 among users vs 4.65 nmol/L among nonusers). Neopterin and beta 2m were correlated in this healthy adult population (adjusted r = 0.53, P = 0.001), yet no other interrelationships with numerous biologic markers except between beta 2m and serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels (adjusted r = .41, P = 0.05) were observed. These findings provide important baseline information to consider before planning or evaluating studies utilizing neopterin or beta 2m levels.

The prevalence of H. ducreyi antibodies is the highest rate that has been reported. Our findings underscore the importance of an effective program to control GUDs as part of the strategy to prevent the potentially explosive spread of HIV in Nigeria.

Historically, the leading cause of death among persons with haemophilia and other congenital coagulation disorders was uncontrolled bleeding. Mortality was associated with severe deficiency of coagulation factors VIII or IX and especially with high-titre antifactor neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors). The catastrophic contamination of plasma donor pools with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) resulted in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome replacing haemorrhage as the leading cause of death among persons with haemophilia. Rather little has been written, however, about mortality among those not infected with HIV. The objective of this study was to identify conditions associated with all-cause mortality among HIV-uninfected patients who were followed for a mean of 8.8 years in the Multicentre Hemophilia Cohort Study. Among the 364 children (mean age 8 years), there were four deaths; two related to cancer, one to trauma, and the fourth to haemorrhage, end-stage liver disease and sepsis. Among the 387 HIV-uninfected adults (mean age 35 years) there were 29 deaths, with haemorrhage the leading cause of death, followed by hepatic, stroke and cancer deaths. Prognostic factors for all-cause mortality among the adults included haemophilia Type A with neutralizing antibodies [age-adjusted relative rate (RR) 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-6.9] and serologic evidence of both hepatitis B and C virus (RR 4.1, 95% CI 0.97-17.6). Although hepatitis C viral load was slightly lower in patients with hepatitis B virus surface antigenaemia, it was unrelated to vital status. We conclude that causes of death and prognostic factors for current HIV-uninfected haemophilia patients are similar to those noted before the HIV epidemic. Better understanding, prevention and control of neutralizing antibodies and hepatitis infections may substantially improve longevity for people with haemophilia.

To identify the prognostic significance of hemophilia- and virus-related factors, the authors undertook a survival analysis among 644 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects enrolled in the Multicenter Hemophilia Cohort Study between 1985 and 1993. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was the leading cause of death, followed by hemorrhage and hepatic disease. Adverse prognostic factors included older age and CD4-positive lymphocyte values below 14 percent either at entry (age-adjusted mortality rate ratio (RR) = 6.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.4-12.1) or after entry (time-dependent RR = 4.2, 95% CI 2.6-6.7); indeterminate antibody responses to hepatitis C virus (RR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.8-5.0); and inhibitory antibodies to factor VIII concentrates (RR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.1). Indeterminate hepatitis C virus status was associated with mortality from hepatic disease but not with AIDS mortality. Factors that were not prognostic included duration of HIV infection, hepatitis B virus infection, and other hemophilia variables. These findings suggest that fatal liver disease among coinfected subjects with an indeterminate hepatitis C virus status is probably related to an insufficient humoral response secondary to HIV immune dysfunction and that the risk of death among HIV-infected subjects is best evaluated with age and duration of low CD4 percentage.