1. Patterns of HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II in intravenous drug abusers from the middle atlantic and central regions of the USA.
- Author
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Lee HH, Weiss SH, Brown LS, Mildvan D, Shorty V, Saravolatz L, Chu A, Ginzburg HM, Markowitz N, and Des Jarlais DC
- Subjects
- Adult, Black or African American, Age Factors, Female, HIV Infections complications, HIV Infections ethnology, HIV Seroprevalence, HTLV-I Antibodies blood, HTLV-I Infections complications, HTLV-I Infections ethnology, HTLV-II Antibodies blood, HTLV-II Infections complications, HTLV-II Infections ethnology, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Louisiana epidemiology, Male, Michigan epidemiology, Middle Aged, New Jersey epidemiology, New York City epidemiology, Prevalence, Sex Factors, White People, HIV Infections epidemiology, HIV-1 immunology, HTLV-I Infections epidemiology, HTLV-II Infections epidemiology, Substance Abuse, Intravenous complications
- Abstract
Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human T lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV-I/II) was determined among 1160 intravenous (iv) drug abusers from five drug treatment or medical centers (Manhattan, Brooklyn, New Jersey, Detroit, and New Orleans). HIV-1 infection ranged from 5% in New Orleans to 48% in New York City. Hispanics and blacks had a significantly higher rate of HIV-1 infection than whites (P less than .01), but within each group rates were similar between males and females and by age stratum. HTLV-I/II seroprevalence increased with age from 3% in the 20-29 year age group to 37% in the group greater than 50 years. New Orleans and Manhattan (24%) had the highest rate, and blacks (19%) had a higher rate than either Hispanics (6.3%) or whites (7.3%). No association between HIV-1 and HTLV-I/II infection was observed except in Manhattan. When compared with iv drug abusers infected only with HIV-1, dually infected subjects had more clinical symptoms related to immune deficiency but a lower prevalence of HIV antigenemia. These data document the frequent occurrence of retroviral infections in iv drug abusers. The contrast between the two classes of virus suggests that HIV-1 is more efficiently transmitted, while the age-dependent rise in HTLV-I/II seroprevalence suggests cumulative exposure of a less-transmissible agent.
- Published
- 1990
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