[Prognostic factors in HIV-infected heroin addicts: a multivariate analysis of nonspecific serological factors in the evolution of the infection].

We present a prognostic analysis of the quantifying of serum levels of beta 2 microglobulin, neopterina, IL-2 soluble receptor and three major classes of immunoglobulins, in a group of 68 heroin-addicts infected by the human immune deficiency virus, type I, clinically assessed for a period of at least three years. High levels of any of these unspecific serologic factors were correlated with the illness progression. Survival curves were generated with the categorized variables, showed a significant decrease on the time interval prior to the diagnosis of AIDS, in the patients with these variables assigned on the higher groups, being neopterine and IgA the more predictive factors when the Cox proportional regression model is applied. We conclude that the quantifying of these unspecific serum factors provides a useful information regarding the clinical evolution of heroin-addicts with HIV infection.