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Stephen Schultz, MD; John A. Milberg, MPH; Alan R. Kristal, DrPH; Rand L. Stoneburner, MD, MPH
New York City Department of Health

JAMA. 1986;255(13):1703-1704.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

In the Oct 18, 1985, issue of JAMA, Redfield et al¹ present evidence for heterosexual transmission of the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). Male-to-female transmission has been documented previously, but female-to-male transmission has yet to be demonstrated. Approximately one tenth of 1% of all US cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (18/14,125) have been attributed to female-to-male sexual transmission (Centers for Disease Control, national surveillance data, 1981 through October 1985). Therefore, any study supporting this mode of transmission must be rigorous. We feel that the study by Redfield et al is based on questionable data and unsound epidemiologic reasoning and that the evidence presented for female-to-male transmission is unconvincing.

Our first criticism is that the means used to exclude persons with known AIDS risks were not sensitive and were subject to considerable bias. Risk factors for HTLV-III infection were ascertained through self-reporting by cases, . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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