Endocrine complications of AIDS and drug addiction.

The endocrine and metabolic consequences of illicit drug use and HIV disease are extensive and profound. Both narcotic drug use and AIDS have the capacity to cause clinically significant multiglandular derangements. Admittedly, we were not able to focus as much attention on the less frequently occurring disturbances of calcium, phosphorus, or folate metabolism in HIV disease. Similarly, we reported very little information about the endocrinologic significance of the use of classes of narcotics other than opiates and to a far lesser extent cocaine. Even with these limitations, the spectrum of drug abuse and HIV-related endocrine manifestations discussed previously is quite diverse. Given the pervasive effects of drug abuse on other organ systems, it is not surprising to find expanding interest in the endocrine consequences of narcotic drug use. In fact, the use of these drugs is responsible, in part, for the past and continuing interest in identifying receptors for these agents and similarly structured endogenous ligands. As these investigations proceed, we must appreciate the limitations in translating basic and clinical scientific findings to the clinical setting. Much of the current research does not study street-relevant narcotic doses, does not use research designs involving polydrug use, and does not involve the processes or routes of drug administration used by active narcotic addicts. There is a critical need for more research methods with animal models and clinical study settings that more adequately mimic drug use outside of the laboratory. Our ability to develop appropriate psychopharmaceutical agents to respond to the different faces of drug abuse in the United States will depend on continued progress in the area of neuroendocrinology. With respect to the consequences of HIV disease, the clinical findings of elevated hormonal levels in some endocrine systems are amazing given what one would expect if one postulated direct or indirect destruction by HIV or the opportunistic complications that accompany AIDS. In unraveling this puzzle, careful attention must be given to evaluating the degree to which the clinical or biochemical consequences are due to a direct HIV effect, to an effect of a complicating infection or neoplasm, or to an AIDS-related therapeutic intervention. More work is needed also in obtaining histopathologic information to correlate with the biochemical and clinical derangement. In summary, there is a wealth of information demonstrating a wide spectrum of endocrine/metabolic consequences of drug abuse and AIDS. Still, just as many questions remain unanswered. While the exact biologic mechanisms are unclear, many of the biochemical aberrations have clinical relevance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)