Immune status of blood product recipients

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Abstract
Persons with hemophilia are at risk of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and clinically asymptomatic hemophiliacs have shown a high incidence of AIDS-like immune abnormalities, facts leading to speculation that many hemophiliacs were exposed to the AIDS agent through their blood products. The immune status of 3 groups of blood product recipients without AIDS in New York City [USA], including 47 persons with hemophilia A receiving factor VIII concentrate, 50 persons with homozygous .beta.-thalassemia, and 27 persons with sickle cell anemia receiving frozen-packed RBC [red blood cells] and 20 healthy persons who had not received a transfusion was evaluated. Hemophiliac participants had significantly lower lymphocyte counts (median, 1826/mm3) than did the thalassemic (6110/mm3) or anemic (4,443/mm3) participants, had lower numbers of T-helper lymphocytes (median, 533 cells/mm3 vs. 1733 cells/mm3 and 1554 cells/mm3) and had a lower T-helper/suppressor ratio (median, 0.8 vs. 1.8 and 2.1). These differences remained after adjustment for age and sex. AIDS-like immune abnormalities were found in patients receiving factor concentrate, but not in those receiving RBC. These defects could be due to both an immunosuppressive effect of the lyophilized factor itself and to contact with the AIDS agent.