Changes of some humoral immunologic indicators and clinical manifestations of cryoglobulinemia in heroin addicts.

UNLABELLED: Different autoantibodies and immunologic abnormalities have been described in heroin addicts.

AIMS: dpending on the route of heroin application in heroin addicts to determine: 1) immunoglobulins: IgA, IgG, IgM; 2) complement (C3, C4); 3) some other autoantibodies RF, anti β2GP1 fractions: IgA, IgG, IgM, ANA; 4) CIC; 5)monitoring the cryoglobulin presence; 6) clinical manifestations in cryoglobulin positive heroin addicts. A total of 363 heroin addicts were analyzed after previously completed questionnaire; biochemical analyses of blood and urine; creatinine clearance (eC(Cr)) by Cockcroft-Gault formula; proteinuria; 24-hour proteinuria (Uprot/Ucreat); ECG; toxicological analyses; complement (C3, C4); immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, IgM; rheumatoid factor; cryoglobulins; circulating immune complexes; antiphospholipid antibodies (anti β2GP1: IgA, IgG, IgM); antinuclear antibodies. Male patients were predominating (82.09%). Of them 161 were using intravenous heroin (45.4%). IgA was statistically significantly lower in intravenous heroin addicts. Intravenous heroin addicts contrary to those who inhaled heroin had highly significant levels of IgG, IgM, IgG, antiβ2GP1 cryoglobulins; significantly higher mean values of: RF, anti β2GP1 IgA and IgM. Cryoglobulin positive (CP) heroin addicts compared to cryoglobulin negative (CN) presented significantly more frequently with clinical signs of arthralgia, vasculitis, hematuria; whereas highly significantly were manifested respiratory difficulties, neurological disorders, Raynaud phenomenon, proteinuria, 24-hour proteinuria, highly significantly lower mean values of renal clearance. Intravenous heroin addicts compared to the non-parenteral heroin addicts have shown greater changes in certain parameters of humoral immunity. CP heroin addicts have presented with more frequent clinical manifestations than CN heroin addicts.