LIFESTYLE AND ANTIVIRAL ANTIBODY STUDIES AMONG HOMOSEXUAL MEN IN DENMARK

Abstract

Twohundred and fiftynine male homosexuals (HS) of a large and a small Danish town were studied for antibodies to various virus and their statistical relationship to sex habits, drug use and other lifestyle factors. Prevalence rates against cytomegalovirus (CMV) were 86.7% of HS men from Copenhagen and 73.3% of HS men from the smaller community of Aarhus, against 30% of a control group. Antibody prevalence in homosexuals was significantly related to number of years of homosexual activity (p <0.0001), number of partners (p <0.01), nitrite inhalant use in the past year (p <0.01), and independently to venereal disease during the past year (p <0.01). Titer levels correlated with number of years of HS activity (p <0.001), number of partners (p <0.01), and independently with nitrite use in the past year (p <0.01). The association between lifestyle and antibodies was not detectable for VCA‐IgG, VCA‐IgA, VCA‐IgM, and EA antibodies to Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) or for antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, parvovirus and rotavirus. In a subset of 78 HS men, T‐helper/T‐suppressor ratio was determined. No correlation was found between level of ratio and either prevalence or titer of antibodies against CMV, EBV‐components or herpes type 1 and 2.