HOMOSEXUAL HEPATITIS

The sera of 177 male homosexuals were tested for hepatitis A virus antibody (anti-HAV),hepatitis B core antibody (HBc Ab) and hepatitis B surface antibody (HBs Ab) by radioimmunoassay. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) was detected by reverse passive haemagglutination. The seara of 96 heterosexual males were examined for anti-HAV. Of the homosexual 49-2 per cent and 43·8 per cent of the heterosexuals were found to have anti-HAV in their sera. Even when only those patients originating from the United Kingdom and Eire were compared, the difference between homosexual and heterosexual prevalence of anti-HAV was not significant. It would appear that, in contrast to hepatitis B, hepatitis A is not associated with any particular sexual practice. HBs Ab was found in 100 of the 177 homosexuals (56·5 per cent) and HBc Ab in 100 (56·5 per cent). The two groups of 100 were not exactly the same but there was a very good correlation, in this population, between the results of HBs Ab and HBc Ab tests. However, in four patients the presence of HBc Ab was the only indication of previous exposure to hepatitis B virus. Although the presence of HBc Ab is taken to indicate active replication of hepatitis B virus only 21 of the 177 patients gave a history of jaundice or liver disease. This finding reinforces the view that the male homosexual population contains a large pool of clinically silent hepatitis B infection which may be associated with progressive asymptomatic liver disease. © 1979 The British Society for the Study of Infection.