ABSTRACT
In this study, 60 heroin and opium addicts within an age range of 20-35 years with an addiction period of 1 year and free from syphilis hepatitis and AIDS were selected. A blood sample was obtained on the day of apprehension and another 45 days after rehabilitation. In the plasma obtained from these specimens, the activity of the complement system [CH50 test], concentration of the some of the components of this system and serum immunoglobulins were analyzed by the Single Radial Immuno Diffusion method and matched with 40 control subjects. CH50 in addicts were normal but showed a significant increase after rehabilitation. The level of C3 in addicts was lower than normal but reached normal after rehabilitation. The level of C4 was normal in both the stages. C5 and C1q showed significant increase in comparison with normal controls; and remained at that level after rehabilitation. The total protein concentration was higher than the normal group which returned to normal range after rehabilitation. Serum IgM concentration was higher than normal in both stages. There was no significant difference between IgG and IgA serum concentrations in comparison to normal sera at both stages, but serum IgE was higher than normal before rehabilitation which returned to normal ranges after rehabilitation