HTLV-III/LAV ANTIBODIES AND VIRUS IN HEMOPHILIA PATIENTS IN NEBRASKA: SURVEY AND INITIATION OF A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

ABSTRACT Thirty-nine patients from the Nebraska Regional Hemophilia Center were studied for the prevalence and titers of antibodies to HTLV-III/LAV, and for clinical symptoms of possible progression toward the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Fourteen of 26 (54%) patients with hemophilia A were positive for HTLV-III/LAV antibodies as determined by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Retrovirus was detected in cultured lymphocytes of two out of three seropositive individuals by reverse transcriptase assay and molecular hybridization with cloned HTLV-III/LAV probe. Of the twelve factor VIII-deficient patients who were seronegative, one had received only heat-treated factor VIII concentrates, six only cryoprecipitate or fresh frozen plasma, two prothrombin complex concentrates, one had not been transfused since 1983, and two had never been transfused. None of the patients treated only with factor IX concentrates, volunteer donor plasma, or cryoprecipitate had HTLV-III/LAV antibodies. In 12 of ...