The effect of T helper (Th)/T cytotoxic (Tc) ratio on disease severity in type A hemophilia patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the T helper (Th) to T cytotoxic (Tc) ratio in children suffering from type A hemophilia disease and to evaluate the correlation of this ratio with disease severity.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two mls of EDTA anti coagulated whole blood was collected. Immunophenotyping of lymphocytes count was carried out by FACS analysis using a double CD4 and CD8 kit. The mean ± SD of absolute numbers of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes/ml was calculated and the ratio of CD4/CD8 was evaluated by statistical method.

RESULTS: Among 80 type A hemophilia patients, 66 (82.5%) were male. The mean age was 15 ± 3.51 years. 12 (15%) of them were suffering from mild disease and 68 (85%) had sever disease. The CD4 /CD8 ratio was obtained between 0.45 and 1.44 with mean 1.79 ± 0.78. The correlation between this ration and disease severity was 0.019.

CONCLUSION: The results showed that CD4/CD8 ratio has correlation with disease severity in type A hemophilia patients, however there was no association between this ratio and gender.