ISOLATION OF HIV FROM HEMOPHILIACS

Abstract

As part of a prospective study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in hemophiliacs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 72 individuals without AIDS or ARC were cultured for virus. HIV was isolated from 15 out of 66 (23%) of hemophiliacs who were seropositive for HIV, and 0 of 6 seronegative patients. Virus isolation-positive hemophiliacs had significantly (p<.05) reduced T-helper cell numbers, T-helper/T-suppressor ratios, pokeweed mitogen responsiveness and total platelet counts when compared to seropositive hemophiliacs who did not yield HIV upon cultivation. One virus-positive patient has developed AIDS during the study period but no other virus-positive or negative hemophiliac has yet developed ARC or AIDS. Virus isolation-positive hemophiliacs did not differ from virus isolation-negative hemophiliacs in their HIV neutralizing antibody titers. Five of six HIV isolation-positive hemophiliacs were again successfully cultured for virus at later dates ranging from 3-12 months. Nine virus negative individuals remained virus negative when re-cultured at later dates. These data suggest that a significant subgroup of HIV seropositive hemophiliacs persistently harbor live virus and that seropositivity is a valid indication of virus infection. The significant decrease in the number of T-helper cells and the presence of thrombocytopenia in the isolation-positive group may be a reflection of a heavier virus load, and might be an early marker of more significant disease.