Nontransmission of T-cell subset abnormalities from hemophiliacs to their spouses.

Hemophiliacs who are exposed to pooled clotting factor concentrate constitute one group at increased risk for development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. To determine the prevalence of cellular immune aberrations in asymptomatic hemophiliacs, we studied a group of 65 adult hemophiliacs for T-cell subset abnormalities. Sixty-five percent of concentrate recipients had an abnormal T-helper to T-suppressor cell ratio, 40% had a depressed absolute T-helper cell level, and 29% had an elevated absolute T-suppressor cell count. To determine whether horizontal transmission of T-cell subset abnormalities from hemophiliacs to their female sexual partners occurred, we studied 41 spouses. We found no correlation between paired husband and wife values for T-cell ratio or any other immune parameter studied. There were no significant differences found between wives of hemophiliacs with reversed T-cell ratios and wives of hemophiliacs with T-cell ratios of 1.0 or greater, with respect to immunologic tests. We conclude that there is no evidence to date for heterosexual or household-contact transmission of T-cell subset abnormalities from hemophiliacs to their spouses in our study population.