title: [Immunoglobulin A and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in parenteral drug abuse addicts].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the usefulness of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) as a prognostic marker of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in parenteral drug abusers (PDA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum IgA levels and HIV-1 antibodies were assessed in 374 PDAs admitted for infective diseases or for treatment of addiction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HIV infection was 70%; the frequency of serum IgA above the upper normal limit (440 mg/dl) was 8% in seronegative and 4% in seropositive subjects (NS). The IgA levels in the 274 seropositive subjects, classified for infective stages, were significantly higher in those fulfilling the criteria for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS related complex (group IV) than in asymptomatic subjects (group II) or in those with generalized lymphadenopathy (group III) (p less than 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum IgA levels in PDAs with HIV infection may be a useful marker of progression to AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Enfermedades infecciosas (Servicio de Medicina Interna), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muga
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tor
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solsona
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pol
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabriá
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rey-Joly
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foz
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A
vernacular_title: Inmunoglobulina A e infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana tipo 1 en adictos a drogas por vía parenteral.