Cytomegalovirus Infection and Abnormal T-Lymphocyte Subset Ratios in Homosexual Men
- 1 July 1985
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American College of Physicians in Annals of Internal Medicine
- Vol. 103 (1) , 61-63
- https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-103-1-61
Abstract
T helper:T suppressor cell ratios of 1 or less were found in 2 of 42 homosexual men without antibodies to cytomegalovirus but in 33 of 67 homosexual men with antibodies (P < 0.001). Of 34 men without antibody who were followed prospectively, 12 became seropositive for cytomegalovirus and all 12 developed helper:suppressor ratios < 1.0. These ratios remained at 1 or less for an average of 9.6 mo. but persisted for 15 mo. or more in 3 men. None of the men in the prospective study developed antibodies to the acquired-immunodeficiency-syndrome-associated retrovirus. In the homosexual men studied, abnormally low T-lymphocyte helper:suppressor ratios evidently occurred almost exclusively in those who were infected with cytomegalovirus. In those prospectively followed, low ratios did not reflect contact with the syndrome-associated retrovirus. Abnormal ratios were rarely seen in men who were never exposed to cytomegalovirus. Cytomegalovirus infection may be an important cofactor in the immunologic disorders leading to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Analysis of T lymphocyte subsets in cytomegalovirus mononucleosis.The Journal of Immunology, 1981