Liver Disease Among Homosexual Males

Diminished response to recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in homosexual men with HIV antibody: An indicator of poor prognosis

“…In London, over 40% of homosexuals attending departments of genitourinary medicine (GUM) have serological evidence of HBV infection and 4-5% are persistent carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) [Coleman et al, 1977;Jeffries et al, 19731. Many of these HBsAg carriers have significant chronic liver disease [Ellis et al, 1979;Anderson and Murray-Lyon, 19851. Safe and effective protection of susceptible individuals against HBV infection is provided by plasma derived HBV vaccines [Szmuness et al, 1981;Hadler et al, 19861.…”

Histopathology and localization of viral antigens in the liver of HBsAg positive homosexuals

“…To establish the prevalence and severity of liver disease in male homosexuals with serological evidence of chronic hepatitis B infection, a survey was carried out in a population of 261 2 homosexual males from two London venereal disease clinics. The epidemiological and clinical results are reported elsewhere (Ellis et al 1979). In this paper we report in detail the histology and patterns of hepatic localization of HB,Ag and core-associated antigens in 28 HB,Ag positive patients who had liver biopsy.…”

Hepatitis in the 1980s.

“…Unless the hepatitis B patient's exposure was presumed to be occupational, there is an above average chance that illicit use of parenteral (contaminated) injection equipment is involved,2 or in males, that promiscuous homosexual contact may have occurred. 3 The former has been assumed to be the principal source of exceptional rates of hepatitis B among U.S. troops in Germany. 4 Elsewhere in this issue of the Journal, James and Smith report prospectively acquired quantitative data derived by use of a full array of the newer serologic tests.…”