[Anticardiolipin antibodies in parenteral drug addicts: relationship with HIV].
The IgG isotype of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and its possible relationship with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were studied in 65 parenteral drug addicts (PDA). Thirty-seven patients were infected in the present study. Nineteen (51%) fulfilled diagnostic criteria of AIDS. Thirty-two of these 37 HIV-positive patients (86%) were IgG-aCL positive. Fourteen (50%) of the 28 HIV-negative patients were IgG-aCL positive. Our study reveals a lack of correlation between aCL and thrombocytopenia. None of the patients had thromboembolic complications. In AIDS patients no relationship was found between IgG-aCL levels and the presence of Pneumocystis carinii, other infections by opportunist microorganism, and clinical deterioration. Highly increased levels of IgG-aCL (> 80 GPL) were observed in three patients with AIDS and infectious endocarditis. In conclusion, given the non-specificity of aCL en PDA, it is our opinion that its measurement is of little help in daily clinical praxis.
González Domínguez
J
J
Sección de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba.
Ortega
C
C
Jurado
R
R
Muñoz
M L
ML
Torre-Cisneros
J
J
Kindelan
J M
JM
Santamaría
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
Anticuerpos anticardiolipina en adictos a drogas por vía parenteral: relación con el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana.