[The effect of discontinuing intravenous opiate injections and methadone treatment on the status of the immune system in narcotic abusers with HIV].

The effect of discontinuation of injecting drug use and administration of methadone was investigated in 43 HIV-infected drug abusers. In 20 (46.5%) out to them an improvement in the immune status as measured by CD4+ lymphocyte percentage and CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio was observed, while remaining 23 persons (53.5%) showed stable or decreasing values of both parameters. In the control group which consisted of 23 persons who continued injecting drug use, only 3 (13%) out of the showed increase in the CD4+ lymphocyte percentage and CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratio. It seems that discontinuation of injecting drug use may improve the function of immune system in HIV-infected drug addicts and could be an important factor in the approach for treatment of these patients.