THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES IN HEMOPHILIA IS LINKED TO INFECTION WITH HEPATITIS-C

In haemophilia the presence of antibodies to antiphospholipid has been linked with HIV infection, but other possibilities have not been full y explored and the specificity for Various phospholipids not establish ed. In order to investigate further the pathogenesis and clinical sign ificance of these antibodies, we have determined IgG and IgM antibodie s to a variety of phospholipids, including cardiolipin, in the serum o f 52 haemophiliacs, and related our findings to the presence of antibo dies to HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as to clotting factor concentrate usage and blood markers of liver biochemistry. Our result s demonstrate that the presence of infection with hepatitis C virus is strongly associated with raised serum levels of antiphospholipid anti body even in the absence of HIV infection. They suggest that earlier c onclusions on the relationships of antiphospholipid to HIV infection i n haemophilia should be revised and that chronic infection with the he patitis C virus should be added to the list of infective causes for th e development of antiphospholipid antibody.