The aim of our investigation was to evaluate whether the alteration of
immunoglobulins (Igs) may be a predictive marker of the evolution of
HIV infection in seropositive haemophiliacs. For this purpose two grou
ps of haemophiliac patients (16 seronegative and 21 seropositive) were
compared to evaluate the variations of the Ig profile over a period o
f 5 years (1985-1989). The two populations were similar for the number
of transfusions of blood products and for the severity of post-transf
usional hepatic disorders. The IgM increase, in the first stages of HI
V infection, appears to be more discriminant than polyclonal elevation
of IgG, which is already present in seronegative polytransfused haemo
philiac patients.