title: Recombinant alpha-2a interferon treatment in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC): clinical and immunological evaluation.
abstract: We evaluated clinical efficacy and tolerability of recombinant alpha 2a interferon (IFN), in a group of 16 patients with AIDS and ARC, including 3 children. All patients were followed up monthly for clinical and immunological studies. The frequency of oportunistic infections (OI) in AIDS, and the following symptoms in all patients were studied: fever, night sweats, fatigue, diarrhoea, weight loss. Immunological parameters (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ lymphocytes, skin tests to recall antigens, NK activity, lymphoproliferative response to PHA) were also evaluated. Adult patients were treated with 3-6 million IU of r-alpha 2a IFN daily im for 3 months and the 3 times weekly up to 12 months. Pediatric cases were treated with lower doses of 0.5-1.5 million IU using the same time schedule. We observed clinical improvement and reduction of severe infections in 10/15 evaluable patients (4/4 ARC and 6/11 AIDS). Immunological parameters were transiently improved in one third of cases. We observed only mild side effects in r-alpha IFN treatment. We suggest therapy with r-alpha 2a IFN at low dosage should be tried in patients with AIDS for its beneficial effects on OI development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mezzaroma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paganelli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ensoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Offizi
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sirianni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luzi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valdarchi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aiuti
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins