Coordinate and independent effects of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol abuse on T-cell E-rosette formation and antigenic marker expression

Crack-Cocaine Use Accelerates HIV Disease Progression in a Cohort of HIV-Positive Drug Users

“…[23][24][25] Furthermore, drugs of abuse may alter immunological indices and tend to stimulate HIV activity in vitro. [17][18][19][26][27][28][29] The independent effect of crack-cocaine use from HAART use measured over time on increased risk of decline of the CD4 + cell count, and the significant risk of CD4 + cell count decline with crack-cocaine use in those not on ARVs at baseline, suggests that crack-cocaine may have a physiological action unrelated to HAART use that accelerates disease progression in this population. There is evidence from our data that crack-cocaine use is associated with increased viral load over time, independent of HAART, and that the crack users who were not on HAART had a faster HIV-1 disease progression as determined by CD4 cell decline to #200 cells per microliter, than participants who did not use crack-cocaine.…”

Opioids in Immunologic Processes

“…McDoNOUGH et al also reported a naloxone-reversible deficiency of T cell E-rosette formation in heroin abusers. The rate at which E-rosettes are formed was also suppressed with heroin (DONAHOE et al 1986).…”

Drugs of Abuse, Immune Modulation, and AIDS

“…This practice may place individuals at increased risk of infection with a variety of pathogens because of the additive or synergistic effects of drugs on the immune system. Donahoe et al (1986) demonstrated that simultaneous and independent use of cocaine and alcohol by heroin addicts variably modulated the ability of their T cells to form E-rosettes with sheep erythrocytes, a barometer of T cell-mediated immune responsiveness. Watson (1993) indicated, using a MAIDS model, that cocaine and alcohol decreased lymphocyte numbers and reduced resistance to colonization by Giardia and Cryptosporidium parasites within the intestine.…”