       Document 0905
 DOCN  M94A0905
 TI    HBV and HCV serology in Italian HIV+ and HIV- haemophiliacs.
 DT    9412
 AU    Cecconi N; Carducci A; Scasso A; Panicucci F; Coagulation Disorders
       Unit, University of Pisa, Italy.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):254 (abstract no. PC0381). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371670
 AB    OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate a possible correlation between HCV
       antibody status and serological markers for HBV and HIV. the virological
       and immunological data were checked from 1983 up to today in 64 of the
       haemophiliacs registered in the Coagulation Disorders Unit. METHODS:
       Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core (anti-HBc) and surface
       (anti-HBs) antibodies were detected first by RIA and later by ELISA.
       Since 1984 sera reactive for anti-HIV antibody by ELISA have been
       confirmed by Western Blot. The HIV antigen was assayed by ELISA. Since
       1991 sera have been screened for anti-HCV antibodies by 2nd generation
       ELISA and the positive ones have been confirmed by 2nd generation RIBA.
       RESULTS: In 1983 9.3% of the haemophiliacs examined were HBsAg+, 82.8%
       anti-HBs+ and 89% anti-HBc+. In 1984 50% of these were HIV+ (23.8% out
       of 222 registered haemophiliacs). The data obtained in 1992 were
       compared with those obtained in 1983; the prevalence of anti-HBs was
       significantly different in the HIV+ patients only (p < 0.0005), while
       those of anti-HBc+ (57/64 vs 50/64) and of HBsAg+ (6/64 vs 8/64) were
       both unchanged in the HIV+ and the HIV- ones. 100% of the haemophiliacs
       were positive for anti-HCV antibodies by 2nd generation ELISA, while
       85.6% of the HIV+ and 96.9% of the HIV- patients were reactive by 2nd
       generation RIBA. The prevalence of the RIBA-indeterminate results was
       34% and 3.1% among HIV+ and HIV- haemophiliacs respectively (p <
       0.0001). 72% of the HIV+, who were RIBA-indeterminate for HCV, had a CD4
       count < 200/mmc, while only 28% of the RIBA-positive ones had a similar
       count (p < 0.05). The serological pattern for HCV by RIBA was
       significantly different between HIV- and HIV+ haemophiliacs for 5-1-1,
       c100-3 and c33 antigens (p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These
       findings can be explained by 1) decreased host reactivity related to HIV
       disease; 2) decreased viral replication with consequent weak antigenic
       stimulation; 3) infection with different types of HCV.
 DE    Hemophilia/*IMMUNOLOGY  Hepatitis Antibodies/*ANALYSIS  Hepatitis B
       Antibodies/*ANALYSIS  Hepatitis B Core Antigens/ANALYSIS/IMMUNOLOGY
       Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/IMMUNOLOGY  Hepatitis C Viruses/*IMMUNOLOGY
       Human  HIV Seropositivity/*IMMUNOLOGY  Italy  Leukocyte Count  T4
       Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

