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Abstract

Antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), antibodies to hepatitis Bvirus (HBV) core antigen (anti-HBc), and VDRL antibodies (serologic evidence of syphilis) were evaluated in women known to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-I) (n = 95) or human T Iymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) (n = 45) and controls (n = 89). HIV-I-seropositive women were more likely than controls to have antibodies to HSV-2 (88% vs. 54%; P < .001), anti-HBc (67% vs. 43%; P = .008), and VORL antibodies (21% vs. 8%; P = .02). Similarly, HTLV-I-seropositive women were more likely than controls to have antibodies to HSV-2 (82% vs. 54%; P = .003) and anti-HBc (67% vs. 43%; P = .008). There was no evidence that HIV-I or HTLV-I predisposed to chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The stronger associations between HIV-I and HTLV-I with HSV-2 than the associations with syphilis or HBV are consistent with the hypothesis that recurrent disruptions of mucous membranes caused by HSV-2 infections predispose to sexual transmission of HIV-1 and HTLV-I.

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© 1992 by the The University of Chicago
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Concise Communications
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