HBV, HDV and HIV infections in 242 drug addicts: two-year follow-up.
Of 242 north Italian heroin addicts, 24 (9.9%) were HBsAg positive. HBeAg was positive in two of them (8.3%), anti-HBe in 16 (66.6%) and anti-HDV in 21 (87.5%). Of the 218 HBsAg negative, 182 (83.5%) had anti-HBc, 72 (33.0%) anti-HBe and 97 (44.5%) anti-HBs. One-hundred-eighty-five drug addicts were anti-HIV positive (76.4%); 77 of these (41.6%) were asymptomatic, 93 (50.3%) had PGL and 15 (8.1%) ARC. T4+ cell count was significantly lower in subjects with ARC as was T4+/T8+ ratio in subjects with PGL and ARC. During a median follow-up of 9.5 months (range 4-25), we observed three new cases of hepatitis (two caused by NANBV and one by HBV with HDV coinfection) and one new HIV infection. Ten anti-HIV positive subjects developed PGL and one AIDS.
Mandelli
C
C
Patologia Medica III, Istituto di Scienze Mediche, Milano, Italy.
Cesana
M
M
Ferroni
P
P
Lorini
G P
GP
Aimo
G P
GP
Tagger
A
A
Bianchi
P A
PA
Conte
D
D
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male