Human T cell lymphotropic virus types I and II in intravenous drug users in San Francisco: risk factors associated with seropositivity.
Serologic assays for human T cell lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV I/II) infection were done in 676 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in San Francisco between 1985 and 1987: 150 in 1985, 44 in 1986, and 482 in 1987. All sera were tested by Western blot, ELISA, and p24 RIA. A total of 111 participants were seropositive in a minimum of two assays. Duration of intravenous heroin use was strongly associated with the risk of HTLV I/II seropositivity: greater than or equal to 21 years odds ratio, 6.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-17.5), compared with less than 10 years of heroin use. Additional independent risk factors included black or Hispanic race, female sex, and the use of drugs in a shooting gallery. Coinfection of HTLV I/II and human immunodeficiency virus was less frequent than expected by chance (P less than .02). Longitudinal specimens were available in 154 participants. The age- and race-adjusted seroconversion rate was 3.4% (95% CI, 1.3-8.9) per person per year. Of the 349 homosexual men tested, none were HTLV I/II-seropositive.
Feigal
E
E
Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, San Diego 92103.
Murphy
E
E
Vranizan
K
K
Bacchetti
P
P
Chaisson
R
R
Drummond
J E
JE
Blattner
W
W
McGrath
M
M
Greenspan
J
J
Moss
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D003932:Heroin; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies; D003932:Heroin