§ Dr. SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence exists to connect the use of nitrites as aphrodisiac drugs with AIDS.
§ Mr. SackvilleTwo studies published in 1993 investigated a relationship between the use of alkyl 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 715 homosexual men in Canada for an average of 8.6 years. Both observed that AIDS-associated diseases occurred only in men who were infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Further, use of alkyl nitrites had no effect on the rate at which AIDS developed in HIV-infected men. Significant numbers of HIV-negative men used alkyl nitrites but these men did not develop AIDS-associated diseases. Smaller studies in the United Kingdom have found similar results.
§ Dr. SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being or has been conducted into the effect of nitrites, with particular reference to amyl nitrite, on the immune system; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleThere is no evidence that use of amyl nitrite causes severe, prolonged or progressive immunosuppression. A study of 715 homosexual men in472W Canada followed for an average of 8.6 years investigated the effect of amyl nitrite use on the CD4 cells of the immune system. The loss of circulating CD4 cells is observed in all patients with AIDS. The use of amyl nitrite inhalers had no effect on the number of circulating CD4 cells either in HIV-negative or HIV-positive men.