Effect of hard-drug use on CD4 cell percentage, HIV RNA level, and progression to AIDS-defining class C events among HIV-infected women.
In vitro and animal studies suggest that cocaine and heroin increase HIV replication and suppress immune function, whereas epidemiologic studies are inconclusive regarding their effect on HIV infection progression. The authors prospectively examined the association between illicit-drug use and 4 outcome measures (CD4 cell percentage, HIV RNA level, survival to class C diagnosis of HIV infection, and death) in a national cohort of HIV-infected women. Women enrolled between 1989 and 1995 were followed for 5 years and repeatedly interviewed about illicit ("hard")--drug use. Up to 3 periodic urine screens validated self-reported use. Outcomes were compared between hard-drug users (women using cocaine, heroin, methadone, or injecting drugs) and nonusers, adjusting for age, antiretroviral therapy, number of pregnancies, smoking, and baseline CD4 cell percentage. Of 1148 women, 40% reported baseline hard-drug use during pregnancy. In multivariate analyses, hard-drug use was not associated with change in CD4 cell percentage (P = 0.84), HIV RNA level (P = 0.48), or all-cause mortality (relative hazard = 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.61-1.98). Hard-drug users did, however, exhibit a higher risk of developing class C diagnoses (relative hazard = 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.72), especially herpes, pulmonary tuberculosis, and recurrent pneumonia. Hard-drug-using women may have a higher risk for nonfatal opportunistic infections.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA. lthorpe@health.nyc.gov
Lorna E
LE
Thorpe
Margaret
M
Frederick
Jane
J
Pitt
Irene
I
Cheng
D Heather
DH
Watts
Shelley
S
Buschur
Karen
K
Green
Carmen
C
Zorrilla
Sheldon H
SH
Landesman
Ronald C
RC
Hershow
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D012367:RNA, Viral