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. 1987 Jun;25(6):991–995. doi: 10.1128/jcm.25.6.991-995.1987

Evidence for depressed humoral immunity to Pneumocystis carinii in homosexual males, commercial plasma donors, and patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

L L Pifer, H B Niell, S B Langdon, S Baltz, S T Clark, C C Edwards, D R Woods
PMCID: PMC269122  PMID: 2954997

Abstract

Heterosexual controls were found to have significantly higher titers of immunoglobulin G antibody to Pneumocystis carinii than did patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and P. carinii pneumonitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody-positive or -negative homosexual male "gay bar" patrons, and HIV antibody-positive or -negative commercial plasma donors. The T-helper/T-suppressor lymphocyte ratios of HIV antibody-negative homosexual male gay bar patrons were slightly depressed (mean = 1.31 +/- 0.54) compared with those of heterosexual controls (mean = 1.79 +/- 0.32). In addition to other recognized factors, preexisting humoral as well as cell-mediated immune deficits before infection with HIV may help to explain the prevalence of and morbidity and mortality associated with P. carinii pneumonitis in AIDS patients.

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Selected References

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