[Lymphocyte subpopulations in hemophilic patients]

Monoclonal antibody analysis of peripheral blood T-cell subsets was performed in 23 multitransfused haemophiliacs, 5 children and 10 adults. Although none of the patients exhibited symptoms of acquired immune deficiency, 5 of them showed an abnormally low proportion of T-cells with reversal of the OKT4 (helper/inducer) to OKT8 (cytotoxic/suppressor) ratio. No evidence of cytomegalovirus infection was found. A search for antibodies to human leukaemia virus antigen P24 gave negative results. The relationship between this abnormality and transfusions is discussed.