Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
United Press International - August 20, 2007
Senior author Dr. Richard Saitz and colleagues assessed CD4 cell counts or white blood cells, HIV RNA levels or viral load and alcohol consumption in 595 HIV-infected persons with alcohol problems.
Among subjects who were not on antiretroviral therapy, heavy alcohol consumption was associated with a lower CD4 cell count. Among subjects who were on antiretroviral therapy, heavy alcohol consumption was not associated with a lower CD4 cell count or higher HIV viral load.
HIV-infected persons who drink alcohol heavily and are not on antiretroviral therapy might decrease their risk of disease progression if they abstain from alcohol use, the study, published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, reported.
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