Markers of HTLV-III in patients with end stage renal failure treated by haemodialysis.
Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986; 293 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.293.6540.161 (Published 19 July 1986) Cite this as: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986;293:161
- M Goldman,
- C Liesnard,
- J L Vanherweghem,
- N Dolle,
- C Toussaint,
- S Sprecher,
- J Cogniaux,
- L Thiry
Abstract
Patients and members of staff from a haemodialysis unit were tested for markers of infection with human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III), the virus associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay showed eight of 100 patients to have antibodies to HTLV-III. In five of these patients past or present infection with HTLV-III was confirmed by Western blot analysis or detection of HTLV-III antigens in lymphocyte cultures, or both. Investigation of other risk factors for AIDS showed that the putative source of HTLV-III was unrelated to dialysis in two patients whereas blood transfusion was the most likely cause of contamination in the others. No member of staff gave a positive result in the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Nosocomial transmission of HTLV-III seems unlikely if precautions similar to those recommended for the control of hepatitis B infection are applied.