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Individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) usually produce anti-HCV antibodies detectable by enzyme immunoassay (EIA); however, in certain viremic cases this antibody does not appear. To investigate whether anti-HCV in these cases is detectable by Western blot (WB), 38 HCV RNA positive/anti-HCV EIA-negative sera were tested by RIBA 3.0 or LiaTek III. The HCV genotypes (INNO-LiPA) were analyzed to determine whether the variance in these genotypes can be the reason for the late, weak antibody production or its absence. As the control group, 282 EIA-positive/HCV RNA-positive patients were examined. A single band reactivity of various intensities by RIBA or LiaTek was observed in 16/38 EIA negative sera. Positive results with NS3 were detected in 4 sera and weak positive (+/-) with core, NS3, and NS5 in 5, 6, and 1 sera, respectively. In 3 cases with anti-NS3, the seroreversion was observed in follow-up. The distribution of genotypes in anti-HCV-negative versus anti-HCV-positive groups was: 1b alone, 50.0% vs. 78.0%; 3a alone, 13.2% vs. 15.6%; and mixed (1b+3a), 36.8% vs. 5.0%, respectively. The follow-up studies showed that viremia was lost spontaneously in 12/35 patients. In some patients infected with two genotypes, the spontaneous loss of the 3a genotype was observed. The study showed that WB tests are useful for serological confirmation of HCV infection in some EIA negative/HCV RNA-positive patients but, because seroreversion may occur, sequential sera samples should be tested. No unusual HCV genotype was detected in anti-HCV-negative/HCV RNA-positive cases, but the frequency of mixed infection with the 1b+3a genotypes in this group was found to be higher than that in anti-HCV-positive hepatitis patients.

SummarySera of 520 multitransfused haemophiliacs were examined for antibody to HIV; 447 patients had haemophilia A and 73 had haemophilia B. In 382 patients with haemophilia A and in 62 with haemophilia B solely Polish-made blood products were used for replacement therapy. The remaining haemophiliacs had also received imported clotting factor concentrates prior to the investigation. Only 8 patients (haemophilia A - 7, haemophilia B - 1) developed anti-HIV and all of them had been exposed to commercial concentrates. The analysis of T-cell subsets demonstrated an inverted T4/T8 ratio (less than 1.0) in 7 (30%) of the 23 haemophiliacs treated solely with domestic cryoprecipitate and in 3 (37%) of the 8 seropositive recipients of commercial concentrates. The most frequent alteration in both subgroups was a reduced ratio with either normal absolute numbers or an increase in T8 cells. Increased serum IgG levels were found in 82% of the users of cryoprecipitate and in 75% of the seropositive patients. Serum beta-2-microglobulin level was elevated in 69 and 62% of each subgroup, respectively. The observed immunological abnormalities, at least in the cryoprecipitate treated subgroup, may be causally related to factors other than HIV infection.

Cyclic changes in the red cell system, suggesting the existence of a diurnal rhythm, have been found in 47 mongrel rabbits. The diurnal fluctuations occur in the blood of both peripheral and central vessels. The haemoglobin level of the blood in the marginal ear vein is significantly higher than that in the posterior vena cava. No significant differences have been found between the haematocrit value of the blood in the central vessels and that in the peripheral vessels. I. INTRODUCTIONThere are numerous examples of diurnal rhythms and seasonal cycles in the animal kingdom (Bullo ugh, 1947; K 1 e i t m a n, 1949; Ha r ker 1953; Barański, et al., 1972 a). Rhythmic changes in the function of the haemopoietic system and in the composition and picture of blood are known phenomena. Barański et al., (1972 b) showed a distinct mitotic rhythm with a peak at 8 p.m. in the haemopoietic system of guinea pigs, light being an active synchronizer of mitoses in this system. Halberg & Visscher (1950) detected that physiological eosinopenia occurs in the mouse, unexposed to stress factors, in the night. Studying the diurnal rhythm of the number of eosinophiles in man, Donato & S t r u m i a (1952) demonstrated that it attains its lowest level at noon and a peak in the night. Rhythmic diurnal changes in the number of reticulocytes and the rate of their maturation in rats were found by Goldeck & Stoffregen (1952). The highest values were recorded in the evening and a minimum in the night. This rhytm seems to be endogenous. D e 1 a n e y (1960) reported the presence of diurnal physiological fluctuations in the haemoglobin level in man. It dropped Detween 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and rose during sleep. Fox & Laird (1970) carried out a study of changes in the haematological values in the diurnal rhythm by determining the numbers of erythrocytes and leucocytes, the haematocrit value, and the haemoglobin level in the blood from the ear vein in the rabbit. The highest haematocrit value, haemoglobin level and number of erythrocytes were found between 8 a.m. and the noon, and the lowest ones in the afternoon and evening.[113]