Abstract
In a series of 646 heroin addicts anti-HIV was detected in 428 (66.2%) and HBsAg in 53 (8.2%). Forty-eight (90.5%) of the latter had concomitant chronic HDV infection. Markers of past HBV infection were found in 481 (74.4%). The prevalence of anti-HIV was significantly higher in the 534 subjects with HBV markers than in the other 112 without markers (69.8% versus 49.1%, p < 0.001). Of the 266 anti-HIV positive subjects followed for 3–48 months (median 12), nine progressed from no disease to persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL), 52 from PGL to AIDS-related complex (ARC) or AIDS (30 and 22 cases respectively), and six from ARC to AIDS. Baseline T4 + cell count was significantly lower and reduction during follow-up significantly greater in heroin addicts with disease progression than in those without.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AngaranoG., PastoreG., MonnoL.et al. (1985): Rapid spread of HTLV-III infection among drug addicts in Italy. - Lancet, 2: 1302.
Center for Disease Control (1986). Classification system for human T-lymphotrophic virus type III/ Lymphadenopathy-associated virus infections. -Ann. Intern. Med., 105: 234–237.
ConoverWJ. (1971): Practical nonparametric statistics. - Wiley J & Sons. New York.
ConteD., FerroniP.et al., LoriniG.P.et al. (1987): HIV and HBV infection in intravenous drug addicts from Northern Italy. - J. Med. Virol, 22: 299–306.
CoombsR.W., CollierA. C., AllainG.P., et al. (1989): Plasma viremia in human immunodeficiency virus infection. - N. Engl. J. Med., 321: 1626–1631.
CurranJ. W., JaffeH. W., HardyA.M.et al. (1988): Epidemiology of HIV infection and AIDS in the United States. - Science, 239: 610–616.
DesJarlaisD.C., FriedmanSR., NovickD.M.et al. (1989): HIV-infection among intravenous drug users in Manhattan, New York City, from 1977 through 1987 - JAMA, 261: 1008–1012.
EspinozaP., BouchardL., BuffetC., et al. (1987): High prevalence of infection by hepatitis B virus and HIV in incarcerated French drug addicts -Gastroenterology, 11: 288–292.
FauciA.S. NIH Conference (1985): The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: an update. - Ann. Intern. Med., 102: 800–813.
Follett E.A.C., Mc Intyre A., O'Donnell A., et al. HTLV-III antibody in drug abusers in the West of Scotland: the Edinburgh connection - Lancet, 1: 446–447.
GoedertJ.J., BiggarR.J., WeissS.H., et al. (1986): Three-year incidence of AIDS in five cohorts of HTLV-III-infected risk group members. - Science, 231: 992–995.
GoedertJ.J., KesslerCM., AledortL.M., et al. (1989): A prospective study of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection and the development of AIDS in subjects with hemophilia. - N. Engl. J. Med. 321: 1141–1147.
HoD.D., MoudgilT. and AlamM. (1989): Quantitation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in the blood of infected persons. - N. Engl. J. Med., 321: 1621–1625.
KaplanJ.E., SpiraT.J., FishbeinD.B., et al. (1988): A six year follow-up of HIV-infected homosexual men with lymphadenopathy. Evidence for an increased risk for developing AIDS after the third year of lymphadenopathy. - JAMA, 260: 2694–2697.
MossA.R. (1989): Predicting who will progress to AIDS. - Br. Med. J. 297: 1067–1068.
PedersenC., LindhartB.O., JensenB.L., et al. (1989): Clinical course of primary HIV infection: consequences for subsequent course of infection. -Br. Med. J., 299: 154–157.
PolkB.F, FoxR., BrookmeyerR., et al. (1987): Predictors of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome developing in a cohort of seropositive homosexual men. - N. Engl. J. Med., 316: 61–66.
RedfieldR.R., Craig WrightD. and TramontE.C. (1986): The Walter Reed staging classification for HTLV-III/LAV infection. - N. Engl. J. Med. 314: 131–132.
Robert- GuroffM., WeissS.., GironJ.A., et al. (1986): Prevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I, -II, and -III in intravenous drug abusers from an AIDS endemic region. - JAMA, 255: 3133–3137.
RodrigoJ.M., SerraM.A., AguilarE., et al. (1985): HTLV-III antibodies in drug addicts in Spain. -Lancet, II:156–157.
SchoenbaunE., HartelD., SelwynP., et al. (1989): Risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus infection in intravenous drug users. - N. Engl. J. Med., 321: 874–879.
SiegelS. (1956): Non parametric statistics: for the behavioral science. - Mc Graw Hill, New York.
TaylorJ.M.G., SchwarzK. and DetelsR. (1986): the time from infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to the onset of the AIDS. - J. Infectious Dis., 154: 694–697.
WinerB.J. (1971): Statistical principles in experimental design. - Mc Graw Hill-Kogakusha, Tokio.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Corresponding author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mandelli, C., Conte, D., Barbera, R. et al. Prevalence of HIV infection in 646 heroin addicts and outcome of HIV-related conditions in the 266 followed up. Eur J Epidemiol 7, 83–87 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221346
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221346