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American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 121, No. 5: 629-636
Copyright © 1985 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS

DECREASED HELPER T LYMPHOCYTES IN HOMOSEXUAL MEN

I. SEXUAL CONTACT IN HIGH-INCHDENCE AREAS FOR THE ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME

JAMES J. GOEDERT1, ROBERT J. BIGGAR1, DEBORAH M. WINN1, DEAN L. MANN2, DAVID P. BYAR3, DOUGLAS M. STRONG4, RICHARD A. DIGIOIA5, RONALD J. GROSSMAN6, WILLIAM C. SANCHEZ5, RONALD G. KASE1, MARK H. GREENE1, ROBERT N. HOOVER1 and WILLIAM A. BLATTNER1

1 Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Etiology, National Cancer Institute Bethesda, MD
2 Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Division of Cancer Etiology, National Cancer Institute Bethesda, MD
3 Biometry Branch, Division of Cancer Etiology, National Cancer Institute Bethesda, MD
4 Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services Uni versity of the Health Sciences Bethesda, MD
5 Private practice Washington, DC
6 Private practice New York, NY

Reprint requests to Dr. James J. Goedert, Environ mental Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Landow Building, Room 3C-19, Bethesda, MD 20205.

Received for publication June 19, 1984. Revision received September 28, 1984. In June 1982, sexual and other behavioral patterns were examined in 245 homosexual men in relationship to T-lymphocyte phenotypes that are character istic of the acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Mean helper T-cell counts in New York City (579±32 cells/mm2 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 parthers had a mean helper T-cell count of 517 ± 44 cells/ mm3 and 12 of those 31 men had helper T-cell counts <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.

homosexuality; immunity; cellutar immunologic deficiency syndromes regres sion analysis; retrovlrus infections


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