Injection Drug Users

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, 1997

Although low plasma vitamin A levels are associated with increased mortality and higher vertical transmission during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, it is unknown whether plasma low vitamin A levels are a marker for circulating HIV load. We conducted a cross-sectional study within a prospective cohort study of injection drug users in order to evaluate the relationship between plasma vitamin A levels and HIV viral load. Plasma vitamin A level was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Infectious viral load was measured by quantitative microculture of serial fivefold dilutions of 10 6 peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A total of 284 HIV-infected adults (79 women, 205 men) were studied. Plasma vitamin A levels consistent with deficiency were found in 28.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1998

The use of vitamin A therapy during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is under clinical investigation, and vitamin A could potentially modulate HIV replication because the virus genome contains a retinoic acid response element. A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to determine the impact of single high-dose vitamin A supplementation, 60-mg retinol equivalent (200,000 IU), on HIV load and CD4 lymphocyte count. HIV-infected injection drug users (120) were randomly allocated to receive vitamin A or placebo. Plasma vitamin A level, CD4 lymphocyte count, and HIV load were measured at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. Vitamin A supplementation had no significant impact on HIV load or CD4 lymphocyte count at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. This study suggests that high-dose vitamin A supplementation does not influence HIV load.

American Journal of Public Health, 1996

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of four blood-borne viral infections among illicit drug injectors with up to 6 years of injecting experience. METHODS: We analyzed data from 716 volunteers recruited in 1988 and 1989. Test results for hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV), and human T-lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV) were examined across six sequential cohorts defined by duration of drug injection. RESULTS: Overall, seroprevalence of HCV, HBV, HIV, and HTLV was 76.9%, 65.7%, 20.5% and 1.8%, respectively, and 64.7%, 49.8%, 13.9%, and 0.5%, respectively, among those who had injected for 1 year or less. Among the newest initiates, HCV and HBV were associated with injecting variables, and HIV was associated with sexual variables. CONCLUSIONS: The high rates of HCV, HBV, and HIV infections among short-term injectors emphasizes the need to target both parenteral and sexual risk...

Nutrition Research, 1997

The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was studied cross-sectionally in 135 HIV-infected and 45 HIV-uninfected high risk former and current injecting drug users (IDUs) in the Bronx, New York. Vitamin A levels were similar by serostatus: 35% (47/135)of HIV-seropositive and 33% (15/45)of HIVseronegative subjects had serum vitamin A levels consistent with deficiency (< 1.05 #tool/L); 17 % HIV-seropositive and 11% HIV-seronegative subjects had severe vitamin A deficiency (<0.70 #mol/L). Among the HIV seropositive subjects women were significantly more likely to be vitamin A deficient (29%, 27/92 of males versus 40%, 17/43 of females, p=0.05). Median serum vitamin A was associated with CD4 + levels previously found to be prognostic of disease progression in this cohort; 0.81 /zmol/L versus i. 19 #mol/L for < 150 and ~ 150 cells/ram 3 respectively, p= 0.02. Serum vitamin A levels were significantly associated with hemoglobin levels in HIV-infected individuals only (Mantel Haenszel trend, p=0.05). Further study of vitamin A deficiency and infectious disease morbidity in HIV-infected and uninfected high risk IDUs may be warranted given the high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among this cohort of IDUs and the association of vitamin A with infectious disease morbidity. © 1997 Elsevier Seieaaee Inc.

Between 1977 and 2002, there were only 84 cases of HIV infection through intravenous drug use reported to the AIDS surveillance system of the Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health. By the end of April 2007, the number of HIV infections from injection drug users (IDUs) has reached 5368. In view of the increasing HIV infections among IDUs, it is essential to have an overall understanding on the relationships between HIV infections and the sources of transmission, such as sexual behavior, methods of drug injection, and the sharing of needles, diluents or containers among drug users.

… Journal of Public …, 1996

Population Research and …, 1999

Six hundred and one injection drug users (IDUs) who attended drug treatment programs in Miami, Florida, were enrolled in a panel study to determine the prevalence and incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and associated risk factors. A structured questionnaire which elicited injection and sexual behaviors was administered and blood was obtained by venipduncture. All participants were reassessed at six month intervals for 5 years. The baseline prevalence of HIV was 16.3%. African-Americans had a prevalence of HIV (37.1%) that was significantly higher than that of non-Hispanic whites (7.6%); the prevalence of HIV among Hispanics was 27.2%. Persons who were more than thirty years of age were more likely to test HIV positive (17.8%) than were younger participants (9.7%). The annual incidence per 1000 person-years of exposure for the 503 initially seronegative participants was consistently low for each year of the study. The 5 year incidence was 4.1 per 1000 person years; 7.5 for men and 1.7 for women, 7.5 for African-Americans and 3.8 for non-Hispanic whites. No Hispanic participants seroconverted. Multivariate logistic techniques were used to identify the independent risk factors for HIV prevalence. Earlier injection, ethnicity, and income were independently associated with HIV serostatus. A history of a sexually transmitted disease was marginally associated with HIV prevalence. Low incidence probably is a function of the reduction of risk behavior that occurred over the course of the study and the stage of the epidemic.

2011

Background. Population-level hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection incidence is a surrogate for community drug-related risk. Methods. We characterized trends in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV infection incidence and HCV infection prevalence among injection drug users (IDUs) recruited over

Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2014

Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the three prevalent viral and bloodborne infections worldwide. Considering the similar route of transmission in these infections, their co-infections would be more challenging for health care professionals. Therefore, we investigated the rate of HIV/HBV/HCV co-infection among injection drug users (IDUs) referred to Drop in centers (DICs). In this cross-sectional study (2008-2009), IDUs referred to DICs in Isfahan province were evaluated. Venous blood samples were obtained and HBsAg, HBcAb, HCVAb, and HIVAb measured by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Demographic data and risk factors in patients with HBV/HCV, HIV/HCV, and HIV/HBV co-infections were obtained by a trained social worker using a structured checklist. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, t-test, and multiple logistic regressions. Totally, 539 IDUs with mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 35.3 (7.9) were stud...

2006

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 infection is prevalent among injection drug users nationwide, and is espe- cially prevalent here in the Bronx and New York City. Injection drug users are at increased risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV infection primarily because of unsafe injection practices and high-risk sex behaviors, but several studies have tested risk reduction interven- tions for injection drug users