Nontransmission of T-cell subset abnormalities from hemophiliacs to their spouses
J. K. Kreiss, C. K. Kasper, J. L. Fahey, M. Weaver, B. R. Visscher, J. A. Stewart and D. N. Lawrence
Hemophiliacs who are exposed to pooled clotting factor concentrate
constitute one group at increased risk for development of acquired immune
deficiency syndrome. To determine the prevalence of cellular immune
aberrations in asymptomatic hemophiliacs, we studied a group of 65 adult
hemophiliacs for T-cell subset abnormalities. Sixty-five percent of
concentrate recipients had an abnormal T-helper to T-suppressor cell ratio,
40% had a depressed absolute T-helper cell level, and 29% had an elevated
absolute T-suppressor cell count. To determine whether horizontal
transmission of T-cell subset abnormalities from hemophiliacs to their
female sexual partners occurred, we studied 41 spouses. We found no
correlation between paired husband and wife values for T-cell ratio or any
other immune parameter studied. There were no significant differences found
between wives of hemophiliacs with reversed T-cell ratios and wives of
hemophiliacs with T-cell ratios of 1.0 or greater, with respect to
immunologic tests. We conclude that there is no evidence to date for
heterosexual or household-contact transmission of T-cell subset
abnormalities from hemophiliacs to their spouses in our study population.
