T lymphocyte colony assay in hemophiliacs

Abstract

Unexplained lymphadenopathy, with or without accompanying, symptoms, known as the 'lymphadenopathy syndrome', has been recognized in groups at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), namely, homosexuals and hemophiliacs. To date, however, no test has been defined that discriminates between asymptomatic individuals and those with adenopathy in these high-risk groups. The T colony assay, which measures T lymphocyte growth in soft agar and which allows selective T cell proliferation with minimal cell-cell contact, was evaluated in asymptomatic hemophiliacs. Significantly lower mean colony counts were found in eight hemophiliacs with adenopathy (HA), 763 ± 348 (± SEM), than in 16 healthy hemophiliacs (HH) 3,044 ± 661 (P