title: Immunologic and viral markers in the circulation of anti-HIV negative heroin addicts.
abstract: To assess the degree of immune system activation associated with addiction or hepatotropic viruses infection, we examined 60 HIV-negative heroin addicts for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection markers, hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV), various auto-antibodies, and serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R). In addition, 28 anti-HCV positive patients comprising the disease control group, were also examined. Our results demonstrated a high prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies (61.7% and 90% with 1st and 2nd generation ELISA, respectively). Eighty-seven percent (87%) of the addicts positive for anti-HCV by the latter and 92.8% of the disease control patients, were also positive with 2nd generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-II). In 88.9% of anti-HCV positive addicts, antibody to C22-3 was the predominant (anti-C33c in 81.5%). Antibodies to C33c and C22-3 polypeptides were also more frequent in disease control group (92.8% and 85.7%, respectively). Anti-HCV antibodies were associated with increased transaminases (ALT or AST, P < 0.05), as well as with longer duration of addiction (P < 0.005). HBV infection markers (HBsAg, anti-HBc only and anti-HBs) were also present in the addicts (5%, 28.3% and 26.7%, respectively). Rheumatoid factors (RF) were detected in 36.7%, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 11.7%, antibodies (IgG and/or IgM) against cardiolipin (anti-CL) and double stranded DNA (anti-ds DNA) in 20% and 50%, respectively. RF, ANA, anti-CL and anti-dsDNA antibodies were also detected in the disease control group (32.1%, 89.3%, 28.5% and 28.5% respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Dalekos
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Manoussakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zervou
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Tsianos
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Moutsopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2