Examinations for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection in Hemophiliacs

Thirty five hemophiliacs treated with imported blood products were tested for HIV antibody by ELISA technique. Eighteen cases were antibody-positive (53%) and other two cases were in cut-off values. These 18 positive sera were confirmed by immunofluorecence and immunoblot testing. HIV was isolated in two cases of ARC by co-cultivating peripheral blood lymphocytes and HIV-sensitive cell lines such as H9 and MORT-4. After a few week of cultivation, cells were examined for an expression of HIV antigen. Virus particles were recognized by an electron microscopic technique. Clinical symptoms and laboratory data were discussed. One hemophiliac with AIDS died of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Other three cases with oral candidiasis were in a stage of AIDS-related complex.