Investigation of gene variants associated with resistance and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in HIV-1 exposed but uninfected individuals with haemophilia A.

Nearly 40 million people are living with HIV infection and more than one in ten
of these became infected in the last 12 months. A very small minority of people
seem to be resistant to infection; in most cases, it is not known why.
Nowadays, HIV infection is most usually contracted through sexual intercourse.
However, the risk of contracting HIV infection through contaminated blood or
blood products was very high until the mid-1980s when screening of all blood
donors for HIV was introduced and techniques were developed to inactivate
infectious virus in blood products used for the treatment of conditions such as
hemophilia. Eventually, hemophilia treatment was made safer still when
synthetic clotting factor products became widely available. Even though there
was a high risk of exposure to HIV before 1995, not every person receiving
treatment for hemophilia at that time contracted HIV infection. We would like
to investigate this situation for such people scientifically, because that may
give us insights that could help us develop new ways to protect others from
getting infected with HIV. Because it is known that some genes control the way
we recognise germs and destroy them or stop them from invading our body
tissues, we think that special genes may have protected some people with
hemophilia who may have been exposed to HIV infection, yet remain free of
infection. These results will be compared to those of peaple who HIV positive.

To identify human genetic variants that influence susceptibility or resistance
to HIV infection

From 25-50 hemophilia patients (HIV-negative), treated at the Van
Creveldkliniek, 10-15 ml extra blood will be drawn for this study during a
routine visit to the clinic.

Genetic variation from these patients will be compared to genetic variation of
HIV positive people.

Patient burden of this study is low. During a routine visit to the clinic, we
will collect 10-15 ml blood (extra).
Risks associated with venapuncture are very low. We do not expect adverse
events.