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. I. Sexual contact in high-incidence areas for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Am J Epidemiol. 1985 May;121(5):629-36. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/85248375 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, sexual and other behavioral patterns were examined in 245 homosexual men in relationship to T-lymphocyte phenotypes that are characteristic of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Mean helper T-cell counts in New York City (579 +/- 32 cells/mm3) and Washington, DC, homosexual men with sexual contacts in areas at high risk (endemic) for AIDS (567 +/- 24 cells/mm3) were significantly lower than in Washington, DC, residents without such contacts (672 +/- 36 cells/mm3, p = 0.04 by analysis of variance). Helper T-cell counts in the Washington men were inversely correlated with a greater number of endemic-area homosexual contacts (p = 0.005), even after adjustment for multiple confounding variables (p = 0.02). The 31 Washington men with more than 15 endemic-area partners had a mean helper T-cell count of 517 +/- 44 cells/mm3, and 12 of those 31 men had helper T-cell counts less than 400 cells/mm3. AIDS patients are known to have a marked reduction in the number and function of helper T-lymphocytes. The data suggest that deficits of helper T lymphocytes can be acquired by homosexual contact with men in cities where AIDS is common. This supports the hypotheses that low helper T-cell counts may be caused by a sexually transmissible agent and that frequent homosexual exposure to residents of high-risk areas for AIDS may be an important means of spread of this agent.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/BLOOD/*IMMUNOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Adult Comparative Study District of Columbia Epidemiologic Methods *Homosexuality Human Immunity, Cellular Immunosuppression Male New York City Nitrites/POISONING Phenotype Regression Analysis Risk *Sex Behavior Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/*IMMUNOLOGY T-Lymphocytes, Suppressor-Effector/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.
