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Immunologic and virologic findings in hemophiliacs do not correlate with ecto‐5′nucleotidase activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes. A difference with homosexual men
Author(s) -
Massaia Massimo,
Pioppo Paola,
Dianzani Umberto,
Guerra Maria Grazia,
Peyretti Francesco,
Pileri Alessandro,
Tamponi Giacomo
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1987.tb00003.x
Subject(s) - 5' nucleotidase , immunology , peripheral blood , medicine , nucleotidase , antibody , virus , immunopathology , virology , adenosine
It has been recently demonstrated that ecto‐5′nucleotidase (5′NT) activity is significantly decreased in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of homosexual men. This paper reports a study of PBL 5′NT activity in 38 hemophiliacs at risk for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The enzyme activity was correlated to the immunologic and virologic data. T‐cell subset distribution was unbalanced and directly correlated with the cumulative amount of AHF infused. PBL 5′NT activity, however, was similar to that of healthy controls. 6 patients displayed serum antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but no decrease in PBL 5′NT activity. In conclusion, these data indicate that both heavily treated and seropositive as well as untreated hemophiliacs have normal PBL 5′NT activity. This striking dissimilarity between homosexual men and hemophiliacs suggests that some immunologic alterations leading to 5′NT deficiency occur in the former only.