Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
SEROPOSITIVITY TO HTLV-III/LAV IN DANISH SUBPOPULATIONS
Serono Symp Publ Raven Press; 28:297-302 1986. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/87630119 Ebbesen P; Melbye M; Biggar RJ; The Inst. of Cancer Research, Danish Cancer Society,; Radiumstationen DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Abstract:
Danes have the highest incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among the indigenous populations of Europe. Aspects of a series of previously published studies on Danes, which may have some general relevance, are discussed. In 1982, a very strong statistical correlation between sexual contact with US citizens and low T-helper value was found. Europe acquired part of the human T cell leukemia (lymphotropic) virus type III (HTLV-III/LAV) epidemic from the US, while at the same time especially France and Belgium had the virus brought from Central Africa. The percentage of seropositives in Danish homosexuals has since December 1981 gone up by nearly 1%/month; Western blot analysis showed the seropositive person's reactivity against the various HTLV-III epitopes, including P15, P24, and P41, to wax and wane in parallel. A particular route for HTLV-III/LAV into Denmark has been factor VIII preparations produced in the US. In September-October, 1984, sera from 26 Danish hemophiliacs (mean age, 22.0 yr; range, 4-71 yr) and their household members (9 female spouses or regular female sexual partners, 15 fathers, 17 mothers, 12 siblings, and 11 children) were assayed for antibodies against HTLV-III, using Western blot analysis; none of 29 household members of 12 seronegative subjects were seropositive, but 1 of 35 household members of 14 seropositive hemophiliacs was positive. This seropositive household member was a 17-yr-old who had lived together with her hemophiliac friend for 1 yr and had practiced vaginal, oral, and anal sex with him; she did not belong to any known risk group and never participated in the preparation or administration of her partner's factor VIII concentrate. Analysis of sera from both the patient and his partner showed identical profiles on Western blots, including the epitopes P15, P24, P41-P45, and P61-64. Among the other 8 couples in this study, all had practiced vaginal and oral sex, but only one other couple had practiced anal intercourse; neither member of that couple was seropositive. This study showed that heterosexual transmission of HTLV-III as detected by HTLV-III antibody positivity can occur between hemophiliacs and their sexual partners. Furthermore, it suggested that, as in homosexual men, HTLV-III infection might be facilitated by the practice of anal intercourse. In contrast, no serologic evidence was found that other household members had been infected by their HTLV-III seropositive hemophiliac housemate. (18 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION Adolescence Adult Aged Antibodies, Viral/*ANALYSIS Blood Transfusion Child Child, Preschool Cross-Sectional Studies Denmark Factor VIII/THERAPEUTIC USE Female Hemophilia/THERAPY Homosexuality Human Male Middle Age Risk MEETING PAPER
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
