USA: Deadly AIDS Strain May Have Meth Link

Researchers are looking into whether a rare strain of the HIV virus recently identified in New York could be related to a spike in methamphetamine use among young gays and other high-risk groups.

The New York Times reported Feb .22 that not only does meth lower inhibitions -- leading to more high-risk sex -- the drug also seems to hurt the immune system, raising the risk of getting HIV.

"There seems to be something about methamphetamine that predisposes people to HIV infection," said Dr. Grant Colfax, co-director of the HIV epidemiology biostatistics and intervention department at the AIDS office of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. "When we look at why methamphetamine is increasingly responsible for the HIV epidemic, I do think we need to look more closely at whether it is somehow suppressing immunity and increasing viral loads."

The New York man found to be carrying the rare version of HIV is thought to have been a meth user. Studies have shown that meth use raises the risk for HIV infection, even when subjects are controlled for other factors.

Meth seems to suppress killer T cells, which fight infection. the drug also tends to dry out mucous membranes, raising the likelihood of abrasions that could lead to infection.

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Pubdate: 24 February 2005
Source: Join Together
Website: http://www.jointogether.org