Introduction.

Knowledge about the interaction of poppers, a commonly used substance with nitrite as the active ingredient, as a sexual stimulant through inhalation with the respiratory system is limited. Its study is necessary to understand its toxic effects.

Objective.

To demonstrate the impact of popper use on HIV patients with undetectable status prior to acquiring pneumonia and the vulnerability it poses to the respiratory tract; its behavior as a probable long-term proinflammatory agent.

Method.

A sample of 50 HIV patients with undetectable status prior to admission to the ICU for acquiring pneumonia, aged between 25 and 57 years, was selected. 25 patients frequently used poppers as a sexual stimulant in every sexual encounter with a minimum frequency of 3 times per month compared to 25 patients who did not use stimulants; evaluating radiological and microbiological patterns comparatively.

Result.

Those patients who frequently use poppers showed significant differences in radiological and microbiological patterns regarding the agents of acquired pneumonia as well as in their mortality compared to those who do not use the substance. Patients who used the substance had a mortality rate of 92% (23 deaths), with atypical radiological patterns and agents compatible with laboratory-confirmed atypical pneumonia, compared to a mortality rate of 8% (2 deaths), with typical pneumonia agents and radiological patterns.

Conclusion.

Limited knowledge about the interaction of poppers, which have nitrites as their active ingredient, leads us to infer and compare with nitric oxide produced by macrophages and endothelium since nitrites are the final product of their metabolism and behavior.