Hepatitis A seroprevalence in homosexual and heterosexual men.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in homosexual and heterosexual males attending a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic.


METHODS
Prospective study of male patients recruited from a GUM clinic during a 10 week period in 1993.


METHODS
Central London outpatient GUM department at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.


METHODS
255 patients were recruited, comprising 185 homosexual and 70 heterosexual males. Ninety two men were known to be HIV-positive, of whom 89 were homosexual.


METHODS
Serum samples were screened for both IgM and IgG antibodies to hepatitis A by enzyme linked immunoassay. Results were matched to an anonymously completed questionnaire.


RESULTS
81 of the 255 subjects (31.8%) had been exposed to hepatitis A, two of whom were IgM positive. There were similar hepatitis A seroprevalence rates in homosexual (32.4%) and heterosexual men (30.0%). Although 48.1% of the homosexual men were known to be HIV-positive, compared with 4.3% of the heterosexuals. Hepatitis A seroprevalence remained comparable in both groups after patients with known HIV infection were excluded from the analysis. 11.4% of the heterosexual men admitted to oral-anal sexual contact compared with 62.2% of the homosexual men. This sexual practice was not associated with antibodies or a past history of hepatitis A exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no detectable difference in hepatitis A seroprevalence between male homosexual and heterosexual GUM clinic attenders, despite a much higher level of oral-anal sexual activity among the homosexual population.
Nandwani
R
R
Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Claude Nicol Centre, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK.
Caswell
S
S
Boag
F
F
Lawrence
A G
AG
Coleman
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M