[Elevated Clq-bearing immune complexes in hemophiliacs with viral infections]

One hundred hemophilia A and 30 hemophilia B patients who had been treated with non-heated and heated factor VIII or prothrombin complex concentrates were examined by immunological tests including Clq-bearing immune complexes assay. Antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human parvovirus B19 (B19) were analyzed by Western blotting, enzyme immunoassay, passive hemagglutination or radio-immunoassay. Clq-bearing immune complexes were assayed by a monoclonal anti-Clq ELISA system (Immunomedics). Seropositivity to HIV-1, HBV, HCV, and B19 was 56.9%, 87.7%, 79.2% and 100% respectively. Clq-bearing immune complexes were positive in 109 of the 130 patients (83.8%). The positivity and the levels were extremely higher than those in normal individuals. Clq-bearing immune complex levels in patient positive for HIV-1, HCV, or HBV were higher than those in the negative group (HIV: P less than 0.001, HCV: P less than 0.005, HBV: P less than 0.05). When the patients were divided into four groups according to seropositivity to HIV-1 and/or HCV, Clq-bearing immune complex levels were the highest in the group positive for both antibodies, and the lowest in the group negative for both antibodies. These results suggested that each viral infection influences the formation of immune complexes and repeated viral infection increased the level of Clq-bearing immune complexes in these patients.