According to a paper in the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses , HIV disease tends to progress at a faster rate in infected individuals who consume two or more alcoholic drinks a day.
The article clearly demonstrates that frequent alcohol use, defined as two or more drinks daily, is associated with declining CD4+ cell counts (which indicate a weakened immune system) in individuals with HIV disease who either are or are not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Based on the results of a 30-month prospective study, the study authors conclude that alcohol has a direct effect on CD4 cells and that the accelerated decline in CD4+ cell counts in frequent alcohol users is not simply due to poorer adherence to ART in this population.
Another article demonstrated that children who were infected with HIV while in utero via maternal-fetal transmission, were subsequently given antiretroviral therapy, and had no detectable HIV in their blood, still produced neutralizing antibodies against HIV, suggesting that low levels of viral replication might still be occurring despite drug therapy. In the article the authors present data to support their conclusion that the children’s CD4 T-cells may contain latent HIV reservoirs that formed early in life before antiretroviral therapy was initiated.
“It is important that HIV infected individuals make informed decisions relating to alcohol consumption. This article will help to achieve that goal,” says Thomas Hope, Editor-in-Chief of AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.
References:
1. Baum MK, Rafie C, Lai S, Sales S, Page JB, Campa A. Alcohol Use Accelerates HIV Disease Progression. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2010 May 10. PMID: 20455765
2. Ching N, Nielsen-Saines KA, Deville JG, Wei LS, Garratty E, Bryson YJ. Autologous Neutralizing Antibody to Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 and Replication-Competent Virus Recovered from CD4(+) T-Cell Reservoirs in Pediatric HIV-1-Infected Patients on HAART. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2010 May 10. PMID: 20455762
