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Aetiology of AIDS—antibodies to human T-cell leukaemia virus (type III) in haemophiliacs

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Abstract

Human T-cell leukaemia virus type III (HTLV–III) is suspected of having a key role in the pathogenesis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)1–4. Epidemiological data suggest that AIDS is transmitted by an infectious agent through intimate contact with body secretions, blood or blood products5. To maintain haemostasis, many haemophiliac patients depend on commercially prepared clotting concentrates made from large multi-donor plasma pools and are thus at increased risk of developing the disease6,7. We report here that, using indirect membrane immunofluorescence and radioimmunoprecipitation with SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we have detected antibodies to HTLV-III in 30 of 47 (64%) asymptomatic haemophiliacs and in all of three haemophiliacs who either had or soon developed AIDS. Of 34 samples drawn before 1984, 18 (53%) were antibody-positive, whereas of 16 samples drawn during 1984, 15 (94%) were positive (P≤ 0.002). These data suggest that exposure to HTLV-III antigens is widespread among asymptomatic haemophiliacs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA

    L. W. Kitchen, F. Barin, M. F. McLane & M. Essex

  2. Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, New England Comprehensive Hemophiliac Center,

    J. L. Sullivan, D. B. Brettler & P. H. Levine

  3. the Department of Medicine, Worcester Memorial Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA

    J. L. Sullivan, D. B. Brettler & P. H. Levine

Authors
  1. L. W. Kitchen
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  2. F. Barin
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  3. J. L. Sullivan
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  4. M. F. McLane
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  5. D. B. Brettler
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  6. P. H. Levine
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  7. M. Essex
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Kitchen, L., Barin, F., Sullivan, J. et al. Aetiology of AIDS—antibodies to human T-cell leukaemia virus (type III) in haemophiliacs. Nature 312, 367–369 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/312367a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/312367a0

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