HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA VIRUS (HTLV) STUDIES IN SUBJECTS WITH HEMOPHILIA

Abstract

Subjects with hemophilia may be at risk for developing AIDS. HTLV has been linked to AIDS in several reports. Because of this possible association, sera from 46 asymptomatic F-VIII and F-IX deficient hemophiliacs, ages 16 mos-19 yrs, and 51 adult non-hemophiliac AIDS patients were examined for antibodies to membrane antigens (MA) on HTLV infected lymphocytes (HUT 102-B2 cell line) using flow cytometry. Fluorescence histograms of serum samples were computer analyzed for comparison to cells exposed to buffer. Lymphocyte subsets were determined using commercially available monoclonal antibodies. The anti-HTLV-MA titers were as follows:

Among hemophiliacs, titers ≥1:75 were found only in VIII deficients using concentrates. Those using cryoprecipitate and FIX subjects had titers comparable to controls. In subjects receiving concentrate, the titers did not correlate with factor usage (u/kg/yr). Inverted T₄T₈ ratios occurred in 0% of cryo users, 28% of IX cone and 61% of VIII cone users. ↓T₄/T₈ were noted in 28% of hemophiliacs with anti-HTLV-MA titers ≤1:20, 44% with titers=1:40, and in 100% with titers ≥1:75 suggesting an association. No correlation was found between T₄/T₈ ratios and antibody positivity for CMV or HBV.

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