HIV, HBV and HCV seropositivity in hemophiliacs

Eleven cases of severe type hemophiliacs who had received long-term factor VIII injections were tested for the serological markers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus (HCV). The period of factor VIII concentrate injections ranged from 2 to 32 years. The seropositive rates of HIV and HCV were 9/11(82%) and 11/11(100%), respectively. The seropositive rate of hepatitis B surface antigen was only 1/11(9%), while the seropositive rates of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen were 9/11(82%) and 7/11(64%), respectively, Although the patients had no symptoms related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, they were noted to have inverted helper/suppressor T-lymphocyte ratio, suggesting that hemophiliacs with long-term factor VIII injections have a high incidence of HIV and HCV infection, with immunological aberration.