title: Impact of selenium status on the pathogenesis of mycobacterial disease in HIV-1-infected drug users during the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: The risk of mycobacterial disease is significantly increased in drug abusers as well as in immunocompromised HIV-1-infected individuals. The essential trace element selenium has an important function in maintaining immune processes and may, thus, have a critical role in clearance of mycobacteria. The impact of selenium status on the development of mycobacterial diseases in HIV-1-seropositive drug users was investigated over a 2-year period (1999-2001). Twelve cases of mycobacterial disease (tuberculosis, 9; infection due to atypical Mycobacterium species, 3) occurred; these 12 cases were compared with 32 controls with no history of respiratory infections who were matched on age, sex, and HIV status. Significant risk for development of mycobacterial disease was associated with a CD4 cell count of <200/mm 3, malnutrition, and selenium levels of <or=135 microg/L (patients with these levels were 13 times more likely to develop mycobacterial disease). Multivariate analyses controlling for antiretroviral treatment and CD4 cell count revealed that both body mass index and selenium level remained significant factors in the relative risk for developing mycobacterial disease (relative risk, 3; p =.015); these findings suggest that selenium status may have a profound impact on the pathogenesis of mycobacterial disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Disease Prevention, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA. gshor@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shor-Posner
authors.forename: Maria-Jose
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miguez
authors.forename: Luisa Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Ximena
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Burbano
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lecusay
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baum
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012643:Selenium