Immunological status and HIV antibodies in patients with haemophilia--a longitudinal study.

Various immunological parameters were investigated in 12 children suffering from severe haemophilia A or B receiving substitution therapy over a follow-up period of 3 1/2 years. At the beginning of the study, the therapy was changed to heat-treated concentrates of factors VIII or IX. Antibodies to HIV were found in 9 out of these patients. There were no AIDS-related clinical symptoms, but HIV antigen was detectable in one case. Abnormalities of immunological parameters were found independently of HIV infection, but were more pronounced in anti-HIV seropositive patients. Elevated levels of immunoglobulins gave evidence of polyclonal B-cell activation whilst increased levels of neopterin indicated activated T-cells and macrophages. There was no close association between these two types of activation. However, peak activation of both immune compartments was found approximately 1 year after changing the therapy. Thereafter a continuous tendency towards normalization of neopterin levels was observed. At the final visit immunoglobulin levels also tended to decrease. The HIV antigen seropositive child showed the highest neopterin levels during the whole study period. Our data indicate that the primarily high risk of developing AIDS in anti-HIV-seropositive haemophiliacs is declining.