Lack of Correlation between Promiscuity and Seropositivity to HTLV-III from a Low-Incidence Area for AIDS

To the Editor: Early studies of homosexual men in high-incidence areas for AIDS revealed an association between numbers of sexual partners and risk of the disease. 1 , 2 More recent studies, also in highincidence areas, have also shown a significant correlation between the numbers of sexual partners and seropositivity to HTLV-III. 3 These data have been interpreted by many homosexual men to mean that a lack of sexual promiscuity is protective against the disease. These findings may not be relevant to regions of low disease incidence. In January 1984, 320 homosexual residents of northeastern Ohio, a low-incidence area, were recruited by advertisement to . . . No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.