Decreased helper T lymphocytes in homosexual men. II. Sexual practices.
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 immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Three risk groups were defined a priori--85 high-risk men from central Manhattan ("New York"), 96 intermediate-risk men from Washington, DC, with AIDS-area homosexual contacts ("Washington-exposed"), and 64 low-risk Washington, DC, men without such contacts ("Washington-unexposed"). An increasing number of homosexual partners was correlated with decreasing helper T-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-cell counts may also be the cause of AIDS.
Goedert
J J
JJ
Biggar
R J
RJ
Winn
D M
DM
Mann
D L
DL
Byar
D P
DP
Strong
D M
DM
DiGioia
R A
RA
Grossman
R J
RJ
Sanchez
W C
WC
Kase
R G
RG
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D000328:Adult; D004219:District of Columbia; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology