IS ALCOHOL A COFACTOR OF HIV AND AIDS - EVIDENCE FROM IMMUNOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL-STUDIES

The authors aim to critically examine empirical research on the effect s of alcohol on HIV and AIDS from the immunological and behavioral fie lds. In vitro immunological studies demonstrate that social drinking i ncreases the susceptibility of human cells to HIV infection. Animal st udies show that acute and chronic alcohol ingestion increases rare of progression from retrovirus to clinical illness. In humans with HIV, n o experimental evidence shows that alcohol is a cofactor of AIDS. Find ings from behavioral studies show that a link between social drinking and risk of HIV is weak. No experimental evidence demonstrates that ch ronic drinking influences rate and course of disease progression to AI DS in humans who are HIV+. It is premature to promote the role of alco hol as a cofactor in HIV and AIDS.