A Prospective Study of Male Sexual Contacts of Men with AIDS-related Conditions (ARC) or AIDS: HTLV-III Antibody, Clinical, and Immune Function Status at Induction

Between July, 1984 and July, 1985, 248 men who have had sexual contact with a man diagnosed as having either AIDS or an AIDS-related condition (ARC) [the 'primary' cases] were recruited into a prospective study. Of those participating, 127 (51.2%) were sexual partners of men with CDC-defined AIDS and the remaining 121 (48.8%) were sexual partners of men with an AIDS-related condition (ARC). The cohort is monitored every three months with extensive interview-administered questionnaires, history and physical examinations by the project physician, and a battery of immunologie tests. The cohort will be followed for a minimum of three years following the last sexual contact with the corresponding primary case. To October 1985, we have a cumulative follow-up experience with this group totalling 278.33 person/years (mean of 1.12 years per participant) since the date of last sexual contact with the primary cases. During this period, generalized lymphadenopathy has developed in this group at the rate of 19.4 cases per 100 men per year since last sexual contact with the primary case. At induction, 59% (111/188) of participants had antibodies to HTLV-III. Analysis of immunolgic tests from the induction visits of these men reveal significant differences according to HTLV-III and lymph node status. Those who are seronegative without lymphadenopathy compared to those who are seropositive without lymphadenopathy compared to those who are both seropositive and have lymphadenopathy show significant differences in their levels of IgG, their proliferative responses to the mitogens pokeweed (PWM), phytohemagglutin (PHA), and concanavalin A (Con A), the percentages of both T-helper cells (OKT4) and T-suppressor cells [OKT8], and their T-helper [OKT4]/T-suppressor [OKT8] cell ratios. Furthermore, these differences demonstrate progressive gradients of abnormality from normal levels (HTLV-III antibody negatives) to some degree of abnormality (HTLV-III antibody positive) to a greater degree of abnormality (HTLV-III antibody positive with lymphadenopathy). Entre juillet 1984 et juillet 1985, nous avons recruté dans le cadre d'une étude prospective 248 hommes qui ont eu des rapports sexuels avec un sujet masculin souffrant du SIDA ou dune pathologie liée à celui-ci (ARC) [cas "primaires"]. De ce nombre total, 127 personnes (51.2%) avaient pour partenaires sexuels des hommes souffrant du SIDA; les 121 autres (48,8%) avaient pour partenaires sexuels des hommes atteints d'une pathologi