AIDS: THE GAY EPIDEMIC NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1983. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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AIDS: THE GAY EPIDEMIC

New Sci; 96(1336):713-715 1982. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/83604950
Fisher R; No affiliation given

Abstract: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is discussed. While some cases have been reported in Europe, the majority of AIDS patients were Americans (95% men; 85% either homosexual or bisexual). Fatal pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) appeared in the same group of patients. Both diseases reflect that the immune defense system is severely out of order. Opportunistic diseases observed in homosexuals also include Burkitt's-like lymphoma and a carcinoma that involves the anus and the rectum, Legionnaire's disease, and fungal and protozoal infections. The most common, however, are infections of viruses from the herpes group which include herpes simplex, herpes zoster, Epstein-Barr virus, adenovirus, and cytomegalovirus. Cytomegalovirus or antibodies against it have been found in almost all AIDS victims. Most observers believe that cytomegalovirus either causes or is a predisposing factor in KS. Some reports appeared to show a correlation between nitrite use and the development of KS. An attribute of homosexual behavior associated with AIDS and KS is promiscuity. In an American study of 20 KS patients, 50% had had 10 or more sexual partners per mo as compared with 17% of controls. Use of monoclonal antibodies for exploring the immune defenses showed T-cell imbalance in AIDS patients. Further research is needed for determining rational therapy and the relation between the immune defense system and cancer. (6 Refs)
Keywords: Burkitt's Lymphoma/ETIOLOGY Cytomegalovirus Infections/ETIOLOGY *Disease Outbreaks Female *Homosexuality Human Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/COMPLICATIONS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Male Neoplasms/*ETIOLOGY Nervous System Diseases/ETIOLOGY Nitrites Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/ETIOLOGY Sex Behavior Sex Factors Substance Abuse United States JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDburkitt'slymphoma/etiologycytomegalovirusinfections/etiologyKWDdiseaseoutbreaksfemaleKWDhomosexualityhumanimmunologicdeficiencysyndromes/complications/KWDepidemiologymaleneoplasms/KWDetiologynervoussystemdiseases/etiologynitritespneumonia,pneumocystiscarinii/etiologysexbehaviorsexfactorssubstanceabuseunitedstatesjournalarticle
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Copyright © 1983 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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