title: Effect of cessation of drug misuse on the immune status of HIV-infected injecting drug users.
abstract: The effects of cessation of i.v. drug use on CD4 lymphocyte count and serum levels of beta2 -microglobulin (beta2 m) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were prospectively investigated in 41 HIV-positive drug users enrolled in a methadone treatment programme. Fifteen HIV-positive matched non-abstainers served as controls. During the follow-up of 12 months the mean CD4 lymphocyte count remained unchanged in the methadone-treated group but fell significantly in controls. beta2 m and sIL-2R values decreased in abstainers at the beginning of the treatment but rose in non-abstaining group. We conclude that cessation of illicit drug abuse and methadone treatment in HIV-infected injecting drug users may exert a beneficial effect on the immune status.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, WarsawCenter of AIDS Diagnosis and Therapy, WarsawRegional Detoxification Center, Nowowiejski Hospital, WarsawUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radkowski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, WarsawCenter of AIDS Diagnosis and Therapy, WarsawRegional Detoxification Center, Nowowiejski Hospital, WarsawUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Werezynska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, WarsawCenter of AIDS Diagnosis and Therapy, WarsawRegional Detoxification Center, Nowowiejski Hospital, WarsawUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laskus
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, WarsawCenter of AIDS Diagnosis and Therapy, WarsawRegional Detoxification Center, Nowowiejski Hospital, WarsawUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaminska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, WarsawCenter of AIDS Diagnosis and Therapy, WarsawRegional Detoxification Center, Nowowiejski Hospital, WarsawUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuligowski