Prevalence of HTLV‐IIVLAV antibodies in Italian asymptomatic hemophiliacs given commercial concentrates of factors VIII and IX

Abstract

The prevalence of HTLV-III/LAV antibodies was evaluated in 222 Italian asymptomatic hemophiliacs treated exclusively with commercial factor concentrates made with American plasma. An increase of HTLV-III/LAV seropositivity from 1983 to 1985 was evident. This was independent of the type of hemophilia (A or B) but directly correlated to the amount of concentrate administered in the previous year. Immunological data (T4 and T8 lymphocyte subsets) were evaluated in relation to seropositivity to HTLV-III/LAV. The presence of antibodies was found to be significantly associated with a low T4/T8 ratio and to a reduced T4 subpopulation, whereas increased levels of T8 lymphocytes correlated weakly with seropositivity. Data from 47 hemophiliacs tested both in 1984 and 1985 showed that 100% of those negative in 1984 and highly transfused in the previous year seroconverted up to 1985, whereas 33% of those not highly transfused did so.

Clinical Factors Associated with Progression to AIDS in the Italian Cohort of HIV-Positive Hemophiliacs

“…Patients with hemophilia are known to have very high rates of viral hepatitis infection (5), but most reports have to date suggested that HIV co-infection could worsen the outcome of the HBV infection (20). We considered the hepatitis B surface antigen as an indirect marker of risk of replication of the virus (21) and analyzed the difference in progression time to AIDS between HBsAg-positive and HBsAgnegative subjects.…”

Viral infections in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

“…CMV and HSV, though commonly encountered in patients with sexually acquired AIDS, are less prevalent in hemophiliacs and children who contract the disease by hematogenous exposure to HIV and are uncommon in trop-ical areas where AIDS is nonetheless endemic (Blaser and Cohn, 1986). Proponents of viral cofactor theories counter that many hemophiliacs have serologic evidence of exposure to herpesviruses and HBV (Landay et al, 1983;Sullivan et al, 1986); that in others, factor VIII injections may have immunosuppressive properties which provide a n alternative predisposition to HIV infection (Verani et al, 1986); and that HIV-seropositive hemophiliacs, including some with high anti-HIV antibody titers (Volsky et al, 19861, may indeed have a lower frequency of overt AIDS than seropositive homosexual men (Sullivan et al, 1986). Likewise, many children with AIDS, including infants, have evidence of EBV infection Rubinstein, 1983;Scott et al, 1984); and the immunological immaturity of neonates could conceivably provide a n alternative to viral cofactors in the facilitation of HIV infection (Rubinstein, 1983).…”

Cross-border paid plasma donation among injection drug users in two Mexico–U.S. border cities

“…The practice of paying plasma donors has been strongly criticized, since plasma donors tend to be over-represented by economically disadvantaged persons such as injection drug users (IDUs) (James & Mustard, 2004). In settings where collection and handling of plasma products has been sub-optimal, paid plasma donation has led to massive outbreaks of HIV and viral hepatitis among plasma product recipients, who include hemophiliacs, agammmaglobulinemia patients, and Rh-negative women who are injected with anti-Rho during pregnancy or at birth (Anonimo, 1994; Bresee et al, 1996; Craske, Kirk, Cohen, & Vandervelde, 1978; Echevarria et al, 1996; Goedert et al, 1985; John et al, 1979; Koerper, Kaminsky, & Levy, 1985; Lawlor et al, 1999; Lefrere et al, 1996; Machin, McVerry, Cheingsong-Popov, & Tedder, 1985; Madhok et al, 1985; Mathez, Leibovitch, Sultan, & Maisonneuve, 1986; Melbye et al, 1984; Ragni et al, 1986; Verani et al, 1986). …”