Effect of cessation of drug misuse on the immune status of HIV-infected injecting drug users

M Radkowski; T Werezynska; T Laskus; E Kaminska; S Kuligowski

doi:10.1080/13556219772903

Effect of cessation of drug misuse on the immune status of HIV-infected injecting drug users

Addict Biol. 1997 Jan;2(1):95-9. doi: 10.1080/13556219772903.

Authors

M Radkowski¹, T Werezynska¹, T Laskus¹, E Kaminska¹, S Kuligowski¹

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, WarsawCenter of AIDS Diagnosis and Therapy, WarsawRegional Detoxification Center, Nowowiejski Hospital, WarsawUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.

PMID: 26735445
DOI: 10.1080/13556219772903

Abstract

The effects of cessation of i.v. drug use on CD4 lymphocyte count and serum levels of beta2 -microglobulin (beta2 m) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were prospectively investigated in 41 HIV-positive drug users enrolled in a methadone treatment programme. Fifteen HIV-positive matched non-abstainers served as controls. During the follow-up of 12 months the mean CD4 lymphocyte count remained unchanged in the methadone-treated group but fell significantly in controls. beta2 m and sIL-2R values decreased in abstainers at the beginning of the treatment but rose in non-abstaining group. We conclude that cessation of illicit drug abuse and methadone treatment in HIV-infected injecting drug users may exert a beneficial effect on the immune status.