Cytochemical profile of lymphocytes in haemophilia patients at risk of AIDS.

We report the cytochemical and immunologic features of lymphocytes of 31 patients (26 with haemophilia A and 5 with haemophilia B) chronically treated with commercial clotting factor concentrates. 6 patients, asymptomatic for AIDS were anti-HIV positive. In comparison to aged cross-matched male controls, significant increases of absolute number of lymphocytes and of T and B cell subpopulations with significant reduction of the percentages of CD3, CD4, CD2, CD5, sIg, and CD16 cells was found in haemophiliacs. PAS reaction showed a lower grading score in haemophiliacs and the staining for NBE, AP, NABG revealed a significant reduction of the percentage of the lymphocytes with dot-like positivity in the same patients. The percentage number of AP reactive lymphocytes with dot-like positivity was directly related to the percentage of CD3, and CD4 cells. The anti-HIV positive patients presented lower percentages of CD4 and of dot-like reactive lymphocytes.