title: Patterns of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II in intravenous drug abusers from the middle atlantic and central regions of the USA.
abstract: Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human T lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV-I/II) was determined among 1160 intravenous (iv) drug abusers from five drug treatment or medical centers (Manhattan, Brooklyn, New Jersey, Detroit, and New Orleans). HIV-1 infection ranged from 5% in New Orleans to 48% in New York City. Hispanics and blacks had a significantly higher rate of HIV-1 infection than whites (P less than .01), but within each group rates were similar between males and females and by age stratum. HTLV-I/II seroprevalence increased with age from 3% in the 20-29 year age group to 37% in the group greater than 50 years. New Orleans and Manhattan (24%) had the highest rate, and blacks (19%) had a higher rate than either Hispanics (6.3%) or whites (7.3%). No association between HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II infection was observed except in Manhattan. When compared with iv drug abusers infected only with HIV-1, dually infected subjects had more clinical symptoms related to immune deficiency but a lower prevalence of HIV antigenemia. These data document the frequent occurrence of retroviral infections in iv drug abusers. The contrast between the two classes of virus suggests that HIV-1 is more efficiently transmitted, while the age-dependent rise in HTLV-I/II seroprevalence suggests cumulative exposure of a less-transmissible agent.
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL 60064.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mildvan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shorty
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saravolatz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ginzburg
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Des Jarlais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies