Berntorp E, Jarevi G, Wedbäck A, Böttiger B, Hansson B G, Nordenfelt E, Nilsson I M
Department for Coagulation Disorders, University of Lund, Malmö, Sweden.
Eur J Haematol. 1989 Mar;42(3):254-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1989.tb00108.x.
The longitudinal follow-up is described of 36 anti-HIV positive haemophiliacs who had seroconverted in the period 1980-82, and of 41 seronegative controls. Laboratory variables were followed up for a mean duration of 2.5 years (1985-87). Of the 36 seropositive patients, AIDS developed in 3, and generalised persistent lymphadenopathy in 9. The HIV-seropositive patient group had lower CD4:CD8 ratios and CD4 counts but higher CD8 counts than the seronegative group. However, there was no deterioration in the values for the lymphocyte subsets during follow-up. Titration on paired sera showed an increase in anti-HIV titre with time. Testing for the presence of HIV antigen was positive in 5 patients, including 2 who later developed AIDS. We conclude that anti-HIV positive haemophiliacs, though actively immunised, often show no symptoms even as long as 7 yr after seroconversion and that, in certain patients, the immune system may even show signs of improvement.
