HTLV-III ANTIBODY IN DRUG ABUSERS IN THE WEST OF SCOTLAND: THE EDINBURGH CONNECTION

Abstract

The authors tested the sera from 606 (460 males and 146 females) drug abusers in western Scotland in 1985. Evidence of current hepatitis B infection was noted in 70 (11.6%) while 356 had signs of past infection. 27 (4.5%) of sera were consistently positive for human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). Of the 27 HTLV-III antibody positive specimens 25 (93%) had markers of current or past hepatitis B infection. 18 (67%) were from females. HTLV-III infection is at a very low level at present among drug abusers in this area of Scotland (which includes Glasgow). On the other hand drug addicts in the Edinburgh area have demonstrated a high prevalence of HTLV-III antibody. It is considered remarkable that infection with HTLV-III which has been circulating at high levels in Edinburgh for 2 years has not so far spread to the Glasgow population only 70 km away. However the high levels of hepatitis B infection noted in the glasgow study suggests that a rapid increase in HTLV-III infection is imminent.