Increased Risk of Infection with Hepatitis A and B Viruses in Men with a History of Syphilis: Relation to Sexual Contacts

Serum samples from 269 men with at least one episode of syphilis were tested for the presence of markers of hepatitis A and B viruses. The patients were divided into three groups: 177 homosexual men, 35 heterosexual men, and 57 men with unknown sexual contacts. The incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen or its antibody (anti-HBs) was three times greater in the homosexual men (67010) than in the men with unknown sexual contacts (25070) and the heterosexual men (23%). The incidence of anti-HBs increased with age, reaching 84 % in the homosexual men 40-49 years of age. A positive correla-tion was found between the presence of markers of hepatitis A and B viruses and the number of episodes of syphilis in younger homosexual men (P < 0.01). Antibody to hepatitis A virus was found in 36 % of the homosexual men, 18 % of the men with un-known sexual contacts, and 20 % of the heterosexual men. Only one patient was found to have IgM antibodies to hepatitis A virus. A correlation between the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and its antibody (anti-HBs) and sexual activity has been reported [1-3]