Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Subsequent Development of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Visitors of Homosexual Sauna Clubs in Copenhagen: 1982-1983

• Published in: Sexually transmitted diseases 1988-01, Vol.15 (1), p.1-4
• Main Authors: HOFMANN, BO, KRYGER, PETER, PEDERSEN, NILS STRANDBERG, NIELSEN, JENS OLE, OEHLENSCHLAGER, JACOB, KOERNER, EINER ALEX, van den BERG, TJERK, SPRECHLER, HANS HENRIK, NIELSEN, CARSTEN MØLLER, GERSTOFT, JAN, RYDER, LARS P., FABER, VIGGO, SVEJGAARD, ARNE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - immunology; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; AIDS/HIV; Antibodies, Viral - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Denmark; Hepatitis A - epidemiology; Hepatitis A - immunology; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - immunology; HIV Seropositivity - complications; HIV Seropositivity - epidemiology; Homosexuality; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Original Articles; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - immunology; Steam Bath; Syphilis - epidemiology; Syphilis - immunology
• ISSN: 0148-5717; 1537-4521
• DOI: 10.1097/00007435-198801000-00001

Sera from 260 men from Denmark and elsewhere attending two Copenhagen sauna clubs for homosexual men during nine months of 1982-1983 were investigated for markers for syphilis, hepatitis A and B, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Five per cent (12 men) had active syphilis, and another 35% (92) had a history of and/or serologic markers for syphilis. Ninety-four men (36%) were positive for antibodies to hepatitis A virus, ten (4%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and 153 (59%) were positive for antibodies to HBsAg. Antibodies to HIV were found in 45 (20%) of the 220 men investigated for this marker. Markers for hepatitis A and B and for syphilis were more frequent in the HIV antibody-positive individuals, but the association was significant only for markers for hepatitis B (relative risk = 2.0). Thus STD markers had little predictive value for seropositivity for antibodies to HIV. Among 37 men investigated more than once, a seroconversion rate of 3% per month for antibodies to HIV was found, but this estimate must be taken with reservation. The rate of seropositivity for antibodies to HIV among men from Denmark was 23%, and three (8%) of the 40 HIV-positive Danish men developed the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) during the four years following the initial investigation. This study shows that by 1982-1983 HIV had spread considerably in the Danish high-risk group, although there were only seven reported cases of AIDS in the country at that time.