Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) manifested by opportunistic infections or Kaposi's sarcoma is a newly recognized and often fatal disease. Three patients seen in Syracuse, New York, were noted to have lymphopenia and persistent serum lymphocytotoxic antibodies (LCTAs). In a double blinded study, 25 serum samples were coded and sent to us by the Centers for Disease Control Task Force on Kaposi's Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections. Samples from 5 patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, 5 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, 5 presumably healthy homosexual males, 5 presumably healthy heterosexual males, and 5 presumably healthy heterosexual females were included. Of the ten AIDS patients, nine had "positive" or "suspicious" results on testing for lymphocytotoxic antibodies. The five heterosexual male and five heterosexual female controls had "negative" results. Of the five homosexual male "controls," three had "positive" or "suspicious" LCTA results. Two of these three "controls" were available for follow-up. Both showed deficiencies in studies of their cell-mediated immunity. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies may participate in the ongoing immunodeficiency seen in AIDS.