Lymphadenopathy-associated virus antibodies and T cells in hemophiliacs
treated with cryoprecipitate or concentrate
GF Gjerset, G McGrady, RB Counts, PJ Martin, J Jason, S Kennedy, B Evatt and JA Hansen
Evidence for exposure to lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) was
investigated in 48 patients with hemophilia, 15 of whom had been treated
exclusively with single-donor cryoprecipitate. The prevalence of antibodies
to LAV in all patients was 53% in 1983 and 63% in 1984, while in patients
treated only with cryoprecipitate, the prevalence was 31% in 1983 and 40%
in 1984. Patients treated with any concentrate had a seroprevalence of 65%
in 1983 and 77% in 1984. Seropositive patients were more likely to have a
significant reduction in the ratio of helper to suppressor T cells,
absolute numbers of helper T cells, and T cell function in vitro. Seven of
18 patients who were seronegative in 1983 had seroconverted by 1984. The
relative risk of seroconversion for patients using any concentrate since
1981 compared with those using cryoprecipitate only was 3.9 (P = .04).
Nevertheless, the rate of conversion in the latter group was 18% per year.
Volume 66,
Issue 3,
pp. 718-720,
09/01/1985
Copyright © 1985 by The American Society of Hematology
