A double-blind clinical trial of the effects of inosine pranobex in immunodepressed patients with prolonged generalized lymphadenopathy.
In a double-blind clinical trial, 61 immunodepressed males with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) received one of two doses (1 or 3 g/day) of the immunomodulating drug inosine pranobex (INPX) or placebo for a period of 28 days. In the high-dose group, clinical improvement was reported by 11 of 21 patients (52%), within 5 months of the cessation of treatment. In contrast, 3 of 19 patients (16%) in the placebo group reported clinical improvement by that time. Patients receiving 3 g/day INPX showed a significant increase in NK cell activity by Day 14 and this elevation was still evident at the last follow-up examination 1 year after treatment. Increases in total T lymphocytes (T-11) and the percentage of T helper cells (T-4) were also observed. These responses were delayed and reached their peaks 2 months after the termination of drug treatment. The kinetics of these effects suggest that INPX stimulates the production of precursor cells and initiates a cascade of lymphocyte differentiation capable of producing long-term restoration of cell-mediated immunity. These data indicate that INPX may be beneficial to patients with PGL.
J I
JI
Wallace
J G
JG
Bekesi
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007288:Inosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007542:Inosine Pranobex / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012306:Risk; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007288:Inosine; D007542:Inosine Pranobex