Antibody to human T-cell leukemia virus membrane antigens, beta 2-microglobulin levels, and thymosin alpha 1 levels in hemophiliacs and their spouses.

Recently, antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus membrane antigens (HTLV-MA) and elevated levels of beta 2-microglobulin and thymosin alpha 1 have been found with high frequency in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Prospective studies of asymptomatic persons at high risk for this syndrome will ascertain whether any of these findings is a predictive marker for the disease. In this study, antibodies to HTLV-MA, beta 2-microglobulin levels, and thymosin alpha 1 levels were determined for a group of asymptomatic adult hemophiliacs and their wives. Five of thirty-nine hemophiliacs had HTLV-MA antibody, compared with none of 21 wives tested. The mean beta 2-microglobulin level for hemophiliacs was significantly higher than the control value (p less than 0.001), whereas the wives had a normal mean value. The mean thymosin alpha 1 values were normal for hemophiliacs and their wives; however, 3 of 22 hemophiliacs and 1 of 16 wives had abnormally high levels. Whether any of these abnormalities correlate with subsequent development of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome will be ascertained by longitudinal follow-up of this population.