The Presence of Some Humoral Immunologic Indicators and Clinical Manifestations in Cryoglobulin Positive Heroin Addicts without Evidence of Hepatitis Virus Infection
Journal
Srpski Arhiv za Celokupno Lekarstvo
Date Issued
2015-05
Author(s)
Andon Chibishev
Cvetanka Bozinovska
Violeta Neceva
DOI
http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/Article.aspx?ID=0370-81791506296S#.Xrz0GWgzbIU
Abstract
SUMMARY
Introduction Cryoglobulins are single or mixed immunoglobulins that are subject to reversible precipitation at low temperatures.
Objective The aims of this paper were: 1. Comparison of cryoglobulin positive (CP), cryoglobulin negative (CN) heroin addicts and the control group (CG) in terms of serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and
IgM and complement components C3 and C4; 2. Comparison of CP and CN heroin addicts in terms of
rheumatoid factor (RF) and circulating immune complexes (CIC); 3. Assessment of clinical manifestations
in CP heroin addicts.
Methods This is a comparative study of cases (outpatients) treated at the University Clinic of Toxicology
in Skopje over 3.5 years, from January 2009 to June 2012. In this study 140 heroin addicts without HbsAg
were examined, seronegative for HCV and HIV infections. They were divided into 2 groups: 70 CP and 70
CN heroin addicts. A previously designed self-administered questionnaire was used as a data source on
participants. All heroin addicts underwent the following analyses: urea and creatinine in serum; creatinine in urine; proteinuria; 24-hour proteinuria; IgM, IgG, IgA, C3, C4 ; RF; CIC; creatinine clearance; ECG;
toxicological analyses for opioids in a urine sample; cryoglobulins. In addition to these 2 groups, IgG,
IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 were also examined in 70 healthy subjects (CG).
Results The study showed that there was no statistically significant difference between CP, CN heroin addicts and CG regarding the concentration of IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4, and between CP and CN regarding
the concentration of CIC. There was significant difference between CP and CN regarding the concentration of RF. The following conditions were significantly more frequently manifested in CP than in CN heroin
addicts: arthralgia, Raynaud’s phenomenon, respiratory difficulties, neurological disorders, manifested
skin changes, hematuria, 24-hour proteinuria levels, and decreased renal clearance.
Conclusion There were no differences in concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4 and CIC, while there was
a difference in concentration of RF between CP and CN heroin addicts. Clinical manifestations (arthralgias,
Raynaud’s phenomenon, respiratory, neurologic, renal disorders and skin changes) were more common
in CP heroin addicts.
Introduction Cryoglobulins are single or mixed immunoglobulins that are subject to reversible precipitation at low temperatures.
Objective The aims of this paper were: 1. Comparison of cryoglobulin positive (CP), cryoglobulin negative (CN) heroin addicts and the control group (CG) in terms of serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and
IgM and complement components C3 and C4; 2. Comparison of CP and CN heroin addicts in terms of
rheumatoid factor (RF) and circulating immune complexes (CIC); 3. Assessment of clinical manifestations
in CP heroin addicts.
Methods This is a comparative study of cases (outpatients) treated at the University Clinic of Toxicology
in Skopje over 3.5 years, from January 2009 to June 2012. In this study 140 heroin addicts without HbsAg
were examined, seronegative for HCV and HIV infections. They were divided into 2 groups: 70 CP and 70
CN heroin addicts. A previously designed self-administered questionnaire was used as a data source on
participants. All heroin addicts underwent the following analyses: urea and creatinine in serum; creatinine in urine; proteinuria; 24-hour proteinuria; IgM, IgG, IgA, C3, C4 ; RF; CIC; creatinine clearance; ECG;
toxicological analyses for opioids in a urine sample; cryoglobulins. In addition to these 2 groups, IgG,
IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 were also examined in 70 healthy subjects (CG).
Results The study showed that there was no statistically significant difference between CP, CN heroin addicts and CG regarding the concentration of IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4, and between CP and CN regarding
the concentration of CIC. There was significant difference between CP and CN regarding the concentration of RF. The following conditions were significantly more frequently manifested in CP than in CN heroin
addicts: arthralgia, Raynaud’s phenomenon, respiratory difficulties, neurological disorders, manifested
skin changes, hematuria, 24-hour proteinuria levels, and decreased renal clearance.
Conclusion There were no differences in concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4 and CIC, while there was
a difference in concentration of RF between CP and CN heroin addicts. Clinical manifestations (arthralgias,
Raynaud’s phenomenon, respiratory, neurologic, renal disorders and skin changes) were more common
in CP heroin addicts.
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