Lack of immunomodulating effect of disulfiram on HIV positive patients.
Disulfiram (Antabuse (R)) is metabolized to two molecules of diethyldithiocarbamate, which has been reported to be an immunomodulating agent. In a double blind trial, 15 HIV antibody positive homosexual men were given daily doses of 100 mg or 400 mg of disulfiram or placebo, for 4 weeks. All had a CD4-count below 500 X 10(6)/l and/or a pokeweed mitogen response in a lymphocyte proliferation assay less than 50% of normal controls. None suffered from opportunistic infections. No significant effect of disulfiram on immunological, haematological, biochemical or clinical variables was observed in this short-term trial.
Hørding
M
M
Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Gøtzsche
P C
PC
Bygbjerg
I C
IC
Christensen
L D
LD
Faber
V
V
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004221:Disulfiram