The LAV/HTLV-III screening in Copenhagen. Epidemiological results from four clinics over the period 1 July 1984 to 1 April 1985.
Over the nine month period from 1st July 1984 to 1st April 1985, 737 persons attended the four AIDS-screening clinics in Copenhagen. The attendance was unconditional, and the examination free of charge. All were examined clinically and serologically for LAV/HTLV-III infection. Ninety-seven percent were males; 490 (68%) and 198 (28%) described themselves as homosexual or bisexual respectively. This study presents epidemiological data on that group. As in other studies, we found a relationship between anti-LAV/HTLV-III and male homosexual promiscuity, i.e. trends towards higher antibody prevalences, the higher the number of different sexual partners annually and the number of previous sexually transmissible diseases. The occurrence of 18 percent seropositivity in a group with no previous sexually transmissible disease indicate a dissemination of the infection to a subpopulation of Danish homosexuals with a nonpromiscuous lifestyle. Night sweats and lymph node enlargement as subjective complaints along with lymphadenopathy and anal pathology on objective examination were significantly (p less than 0.025) related to positive LAV/HTLV-III serology. Fifty-one percent (337 persons) had neither subjective symptoms nor objective signs, and 50 of these (28% of this asymptomatic group) were seropositive. At this stage of the AIDS epidemic, it is important for surveillance purposes that anti-LAV/HTLV-III testing is made available to all members of risk groups. The establishment of the screening clinics with unconditional attendance and ensured anonymity seems to be an important step in this effort.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening