Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Decreased helper T lymphocytes in homosexual men. II. Sexual practices.
Am J Epidemiol. 1985 May;121(5):637-44. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/85248376 Goedert JJ; Biggar RJ; Winn DM; Mann DL; Byar DP; Strong DM; DiGioia RA; Grossman RJ; Sanchez WC; Kase RG; et al
Abstract:
In June 1982, the sexual practices of 245 homosexual male outpatients of private physicians were evaluated in relationship to decreased numbers of helper T lymphocytes, an abnormality that is characteristic of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Three risk groups were defined a priori--85 high-risk men from central Manhattan (New York), 96 intermediate-risk men from Washington, DC, with AIDS-area homosexual contacts (Washington-exposed), and 64 low-risk Washington, DC, men without such contacts (Washington-unexposed). An increasing number of homosexual partners was correlated with decreasing helper T-cell counts (R = -0.29, p = 0.009) and decreasing helper:suppressor T-cell ratios (R = -0.32, p = 0.005) in the entire study group combined and in New York subjects separately. Suppressor T-cell counts were unrelated to the number of partners in all three groups. Increasingly frequent receptive anal intercourse correlated with decreasing helper T-cell counts most clearly in the New York City group (R = -0.23, p = 0.04), somewhat less so in the Washington-exposed group (R = -0.18, p = 0.07), and not at all in the Washington-unexposed group (R = 0.09, p = 0.48). This association persisted in the New York and Washington-exposed groups after adjusting for seven other sexual practices, the number of homosexual partners, and five other potentially confounding variables. A transmissible agent associated with receptive anal intercourse best explains these data. The cause of these low helper T-cell counts may also be the cause of AIDS.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/IMMUNOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION Adult Comparative Study District of Columbia Epidemiologic Methods *Homosexuality Human Immunity, Cellular Male New York City Regression Analysis Risk *Sex Behavior Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
