IMMUNOLOGICAL, CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC ASPECTS OF AN HIV-1 POSITIVE-DRUG ABUSER COHORT

We analyzed a cohort of intravenous drug abusers with HIV-1 disease at tending our institute in the years 1985-1993. We focused particular at tention on the epidemiological analysis of patients, and their clinica l, immunological and infectious conditions. The significance of biolog ical markers, particulary CD4+ lymphocyte count and the occurrence of other viral infections such as Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, He rpes Simplex virus and Hepatitis B and C viruses in the progress of HI V-1 disease were evaluated. At least two-thirds of the patients at dif ferent stages of HIV-1 were treated with antiretroviral drugs: zidovud ine (AZT) from 1987 up to the present and more recently didanosine (DD I) alone or in combination with AZT. Psychological and behavioral aspe cts of our HIV-1 infected drug abusers, in particular needle exchange and condom use, were analyzed.