title: [The effect of discontinuing intravenous opiate injections and methadone treatment on the status of the immune system in narcotic abusers with HIV].
abstract: The effect of discontinuation of injecting drug use and administration of methadone was investigated in 43 HIV-infected drug abusers. In 20 (46.5%) out to them an improvement in the immune status as measured by CD4+ lymphocyte percentage and CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio was observed, while remaining 23 persons (53.5%) showed stable or decreasing values of both parameters. In the control group which consisted of 23 persons who continued injecting drug use, only 3 (13%) out of the showed increase in the CD4+ lymphocyte percentage and CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio. It seems that discontinuation of injecting drug use may improve the function of immune system in HIV-infected drug addicts and could be an important factor in the approach for treatment of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Zakładu Immunopatologii Instytutu Chorób Zakaźnych i Pasozytniczych AM w Warszawie.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radkowski
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Werezyńska
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kopicz-Kamińska
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuligowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slusarczyk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone