Intradermal testing with multiple recall antigens for identification of cell-mediated immune deficiency in homosexual men

Abstract In a health screening project for gay men in Stockholm, delayed cutaneous hypersen-sitivity was tested in 710 men by a commercial kit (Multitest, Merieux) containing seven recall antigens and related to past hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, various life style factors, the lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS), and antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). The multiscore (MS; the sum of all positive reactions) was significantly decreased in men with the following characteristics: HBV markers, >50 yearly sexual partners, regular practice of receptive rectal intercourse, regular sex in gay bathhouses, recent sexual encounters in the US, >50 lifetime exposures to inhaled nitrates, LAS, and positive HTLV-III serology. Anergy to tuberculin (TU) but not to any other antigen was more common in men with >20 yearly partners, regular practice of receptive rectal intercourse, exposure to inhalant nitrates, LAS as well as lesser degree of lymphadenopathy, and HTLV-III seropositivity. HTLV-III antibodies were demonstrated in 61 of 416 (14.7%) men. During the 2-year follow-up four men have developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome. All four had MS