Document 1195
 DOCN  M94A1195
 TI    Transfusions, r-HuEPO & immune function in HIV disease.
 DT    9412
 AU    Scarazinni L; Muurahainen N; Kosok A; Reeves L; Young C; Turner J;
       Graduate Hosp/Phila FIGHT Philadelphia, PA 19146.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):187 (abstract no. PB0761). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371380
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency of blood transfusions and use of
       recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) in an ambulatory HIV+
       population and to examine factors related to use of therapies for
       anemia, including degree of immune suppression (CD4 lymphocyte counts).
       METHODS: A sample of HIV+ outpatients (n = 118) recruited from HIV
       caregiving sites in Philadelphia, PA (USA) were enrolled in a
       questionnaire and interview survey between 8/93 and 2/94. Dates of HIV
       serconversion, hospitalizations, transfusions, r-HuEPO therapy and last
       CD4 counts were obtained. RESULTS: In this sample, 35% had been
       hospitalized due to HIV-related illness. Of subjects who received blood
       transfusions, 5.4% had been transfused prior to their known date of HIV
       seroconversion and 7.8% had been transfused after HIV seroconversion.
       Only 1.6% recieved r-HuEPO. CD4 counts at the time of study ranged from
       0 to 1493 (mean 356 +/- 28) cells/mm3. For subjects who recieved blood
       after HIV seroconversion, CD4 counts were determined an average of 5.5
       months (+/- 1.8 mos) prior to transfusion. Of subjects who received
       transfusions after HIV seroconversion, 89% had CD4 counts below 200
       cells/mm3 (mean 115 +/- 38 cells/mm3). In comparison, 28% of the
       subjects transfused prior to HIV seroconversion had CD4 counts below
       200, and 30% of the subjects who never recieved transfusions had CD4
       counts below 200 cell/mm3. CONCLUSION: Blood transfusions occurred
       relatively infrequently (in less than 8%) of these subjects after HIV
       seroconversion, and few of these subjects (1.6%) had used r-HuEPO. The
       majority (89%) of subjects transfused after HIV seroconversion had CD4
       counts below 200 cells/mm3. Further research is needed to examine the
       relationship between transfusions and immune suppression, as well as to
       determine factors related to use of transfusion and r-HuEPO therapy in
       persons with HIV/AIDS.
 DE    Ambulatory Care  *Blood Transfusion  Erythropoietin/*THERAPEUTIC USE
       Human  HIV Seropositivity/*IMMUNOLOGY/*THERAPY  Interviews  Leukocyte
       Count  Outpatients  Questionnaires  Recombinant Proteins/THERAPEUTIC USE
       T4 Lymphocytes  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).