Risk of AIDS in recipients of hepatitis B vaccine.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Biomedical subjects
K Politou
Publications and source records attributed to K Politou.
Lack of antibodies to LAV/HTLV-III in hepatitis B vaccine recipients.
There is no evidence up to now that the currently available plasma hepatitis B vaccine transmits the agent of AIDS. To support further the safety of this vaccine we examined 137 vaccinees for the presence of antibodies to LAV/HTLV-III. Three groups had received Merck, Sharp and Dohme hepatitis B vaccine (two groups of 25 Air Force cadets vaccinated with investigational lots and 18 multiply transfused children vaccinated with a commercial lot); another two groups (50 Air Force cadets and 19 multiply transfused) were vaccinated with two commercial lots of Institut Pasteur vaccine. Sera were collected before inoculation, 7 and 24 months later. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used for the detection of antibodies to LAV/HTLV-III. Positive sera were tested again by Western Blot and Radioimmune Precipitation Assay to exclude non-specific binding. Antibodies to LAV/HTLV-III were not detected in any of the sera examined, providing evidence for safety. We believe that these data increase the acceptance of hepatitis B vaccine.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Thyroid function in patients with homozygous beta-thalassaemia.
Thyroid function was evaluated in 20 patients aged 8-30 years who were suffering from homozygous beta-thalassaemia. All patients have been receiving frequent blood transfusions and treated for the resulting transfusional iron overload with intramuscular injections of Desferrioxamine. Total thyroxine (T4), T3-uptake, total triiodothyronine (T3), and reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) were measured. In addition a standard TRH stimulation test was performed and blood samples were checked for the presence of thyroid antibodies. It was found that total T4 was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls. Total T3 and rT3 levels were similar in both patients and controls and all patients were negative for thyroid antibodies. T3 uptake in the patients was also statistically different from the controls resulting in significantly lower free thyroxine index (FT1). Basal TSH values were not different from the controls but the TSH increase following TRH stimulation was significantly higher in the patients suggesting, together with the low total T4 and FTI, a state of compensated hypothyroidism.
Adolescent↗