Persistent cold agglutinins in AIDS and related disorders

Eighty-one homosexual patients positive for HTLV-III antibody, including 19 with AIDS, 20 with chronic lymphadenopathy syndrome, 10 with AIDS-related complex (ARC) and 32 symptom-free individuals were assessed for the presence of cold agglutinins (CA). In 12 cases, CA were found; 4, 4, 2 and 2, respectively, in each of the above mentioned groups. Seven anti-I, 4 anti-i and 1 anti-Gd CA were identified. In 11 of 12 patients, CA were persistent. There were no differences between CA-negative and CA-positive patients with regard to the presence of other antibodies, anemia, frequency of intercurrent infections or development of lymphoproliferative neoplasia. It can be concluded that persistent synthesis of CA may be associated with the HTLV-III infection.