title: Antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type III in wives of hemophiliacs. Evidence for heterosexual transmission.
abstract: To evaluate the risk of heterosexual transmission of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, lymphadenopathy, and infection with human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III), we studied 42 hemophiliacs and their wives. By early 1984, 9 of the hemophiliacs had asymptomatic lymphadenopathy and 1 had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Twenty-one hemophiliacs, including all 10 with clinically overt disease, had antibody to HTLV-III. None of the 42 wives had lymphadenopathy or the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome but 2 had HTLV-III antibody. One of these women had evidence of immunologic dysfunction with a markedly reduced T-helper/suppressor cell ratio. The husbands of these 2 women both had HTLV-III antibody, but neither had overt acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related disease. Thus, as of early 1984, the prevalence of HTLV-III antibody in wives of hemophiliacs seropositive for HTLV-III was 9.5% (2 of 21). We conclude that transmission of HTLV-III occurs between hemophiliacs and their heterosexual partners.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kreiss
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Kitchen
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Essex
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral