Le infezioni da retrovirus e da virus epatitici nei tossicodipendenti

« Hepatitis virus and human retroviros infections in drug addicts ». The present study described the prevalence of hepatitis viruses and human retroviruses markers in 288 IV drug users. At least one marker was found in 212 subjects (73.6%). 162 subjects (56.2%) were positive to at least one HBV marker and 160 (55.6%) to HCV markers, while 36 (12.5%) IV drug users had HIV1 antibodies, 1 (0.3%) HIV2 antibodies and 14 (4.9%) had anti HTLV1 antibodies The prevalence of markers was strongly different between males and females regarding hepatitis viruses: 60.9% and 61.8% of the males were positive to HBV and HCV markers respectively, while only 36.4% and 29.1% of the females were positive to the same markers. HBV and HCV infections were significantly associated to HTV1 infection, while no association was found between HIV1 infection and HTLV infection. The Authors pointed out the high percentage of women negative to HBV markers (63.6%) and the great number of HCV positive and therefore potentially infectious subjects. Moreover the Authors discussed preventive interventions regarding to HIV1 infections and the necessity of HTLV1 screening in HIV1 positive subjects.