HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION AND NUTRITIONAL-STATUS IN FEMALE DRUG-ADDICTS UNDERGOING DETOXIFICATION - ANTHROPOMETRIC AND IMMUNOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS

To clarify the interrelations among drug abuse, malnutrition, and immu nosuppression, the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infec tion on tile nutritional status of 17 noninfected and 19 HIV-infected asymptomatic female drug addicts undergoing detoxification were evalua ted by measuring anthropometric and immunologic indexes. Anthropometri c measurements were normal in both groups as a result of weight gain ( approximate to 10 kg) in every patient after the detoxification period . Leukocyte and lymphocyte values and CD2 lymphocyte subset counts wer e also similar in both groups. CD4 counts (P = 0.04) and the ratio of CD4 to CD8 cells (P = 0.6 x 10(-4)) were lower whereas CD8 counts (P = 0.003) were higher in the HIV-infected than in the noninfected group. Responses to a delayed-hypersensitivity skin test were below normal i n both groups but significantly more so in the HIV-positive group (P = 0.05). CD19 counts were lower (P = 0.02) and values for serum immunog lobulins G and M were higher (51% and 37%, respectively) in the HIV-in fected females than in the noninfected women. These results may sugges t that despite anthropometric recovery, the HIV-infected women had dep leted immune function, resulting not only from HIV infection but also from the subclinical malnutrition triggered by previous drug addiction .