Aids in haemophiliacs and steroids treatment

Aids in haemophiliacs is clearly related to the use of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents used to prevent the development of antibodies to factors VIII and IX, and to treat chronic illnesses. In his textbook, Dr Fauci and his co-authors note that haemophiliac patients routinely receive immunosuppressive drugs as part of their treatment. Patients with severe haemophilia have serious chronic joint problems resulting from bleeding inside the joints. This is invariably treated with steroids. Many haemophiliacs with Aids are HIV-negative.  Aids in people receiving blood and tissue is related to the use of glucocorticoids to prevent the adverse reactions caused by transfusion and tissue rejection. Again, it is standard treatment to give such patients steroids.

Aids in infants and children is probably a result of their exposure to street drugs or steroids in utero and, after birth, to steroids used to treat their chronic illnesses. For instance, mothers expected to have a premature birth are routinely treated with steroids - a standard procedure since the 1970s. In premature babies, steroids are used to help develop the lungs and to reduce the incidence of necrotising enterocolitis (inflammation and ulceration of the bowel associated with shock, impaired blood flow or antibiotic therapy). In addition, the natural cortisol levels in the plasma and urine of preterm babies exposed to cocaine is significantly higher than that of unexposed infants.