Maria Jose Miguez-Burbano MD,PHD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gail Shor-Posner PHD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Joel Elliot Fishman MD,PHD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jimmey Jackson, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sonya Hadrigan BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ivette de Pool, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Steven Reiman MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Janine Katzen MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Blanca Acosta, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jose Moreno MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Immune reconstitution with HAART is highly variable, and may be related to volumetric differences in the thymus, a source of T cell recovery. The present study evaluated the impact of alcohol use, which is widespread in HIV+ individuals, on thymic response to antiretroviral treatment in the first group of thymus MRI readings in an ongoing longitudinal study.

Alcohol use and thymic response to HAART were evaluated at baseline and 6 months into therapy in 21 (18 men, 3 women) HIV seropositive individuals (12 hazardous drinkers and 9 non-hazardous drinkers) and 4 (2 men, 2 women) HIV negative controls (2 hazardous and 2 non-hazardous drinkers). All patients underwent T1 and T2 weighted thymic MR sequence evaluations and thymic volume was calculated using both qualitative and quantitative measures. Blood was drawn to assess circulating T cells by flow cytometry.

Thymic volume varied considerably among the 24 patients prior to initiation of antiretroviral therapy. The median thymic volume was 11±7.2 cm³, with a range from 2.7 to 29.3 cm³. Thymic volume at baseline showed a significantly inverse correlation with the patient's number of years of drinking (r²=-0.207; P 40 drinks per week exhibited lower thymic volumes than non-drinkers (9±6.7 vs. 11.6±7.4). After 6 months of HAART light/moderate drinkers exhibited thymus size twice that of heavy drinkers (14.8±10.4 vs. 6.9±3.3 cm³). These post treatment data were also consistent with the qualitative evaluation (0.4±0.3 vs. 5.5±2.3, p=0.05). After HAART, light/moderate drinkers acquired a thymus size close to the mean size of HIV negative controls (15.6±6 cm³).

HAART-associated increases of thymus volume appear to be negatively affected by alcohol consumption. This result could have important clinical implications not only in HIV-infected patients.

M.M.,G.S.,J.E.F.,J.J.,S.H.,I.d.,J.M.: Supported by NIH NIAAA AA-013793 (MJM):

Miguez-Burbano, M, Shor-Posner, G, Fishman, J, Jackson, J, Hadrigan, S, de Pool, I, Reiman, S, Katzen, J, Acosta, B, Moreno, J, et al, , The Overlooked Impact of Alcohol Use on Thymic Volume in HIV-infected Subjects Receiving HAART and HIV Negative Controls.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4418860.html