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American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 121, No. 5: 637-644
Copyright © 1985 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
DECREASED HELPER T LYMPHOCYTES IN HOMOSEXUAL MEN
II. SEXUAL PRACTICES
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. Goedert, J. J. (Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Nd, Bethesda, MD 20205), R. J. Biggar, D. M. Winn, D. L Mann, D. P. Byar, D. M. Strong, R. A. DiGlola, R. J. Grossman, W. C. Sanchez, R. G. Kase, M. H. Greene, R. N. Hoover, and W. A. Blattner. Decreased helper T lymphocytes in homosexual men. I. Sexual contact in high-incidence areas for the acquired immunodeficlency syndrome. Am J Epldemloi 1985;121:637–44.
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 immunode ficiency syndrome (AIDS). Three risk groups were defined a prlorl–85 high-risk men from centrel Manhattan ("New York"), 98 intermedlate-,Isk men from Wash ington, DC, with AIDS-area homosexual contacts ("Washington-exposed"), and 64 low-risk Washington, DC, men without such contacts ("Washington-unex posed"). An increasing number of homosexual partners was correlated with decreasing helper I-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-ceIl counts may also be the cause of AIDS.
homosexuality; immunity; cellutar immunologic deficiency syndromes regres sion analysis; retrovlrus irnfections; semen
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