§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the recent scientific evidence that the alkyl nitrites are capable of producing substantial and long-lasting effects on the immune system, what research is being conducted into their role as a cause of AIDS, and, whether any new studies are to be initiated.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)Two studies, published in 1993 investigated the relationship between of use of amyl nitrites and the development of AIDS in homosexual men. One study followed up 812 homosexual and bisexual men in San Francisco for eight years. The second study followed up 750 homosexual men in Canada for an average of 8.6 years. Both studies found that AIDS-associated diseases only occurred in men who were infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Further, the use of alkyl nitrites did not affect the rate at which AIDS developed in HIV infected men. Many of the HIV negative men used alkyl nitrites but they did not develop AIDS-associated diseases. Smaller studies in the UK have found similar results. In the light of this evidence, no further research is currently planned in this country on the role of alkyl nitrites as a cause of AIDS.