Immunologic effects of long-term thymopentin treatment in patients with HIV-induced lymphadenopathy syndrome.
The immunologic effects of a year-long therapeutic trial with the synthetic thymic hormone thymopentin were investigated in 29 patients with human immunodeficiency virus--induced lymphadenopathy syndrome. Peripheral T4 and T8 lymphocyte subsets and in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were monitored before treatment, every 4 months during treatment, and after treatment. Significant increases in circulating T4 cells and a reduction of PWM-induced immunoglobulin suppression were noted in the 21 patients who completed the trial. Furthermore, addition of thymopentin to the in vitro cultures improved the PWM response of T and B cells. After thymopentin treatment, a slight variability of clinical symptoms, including weight loss, diarrhea, night sweats, or a combination of these, was also noted in several subjects.
Silvestris
F
F
Istituto di Patologia Medica, University of Bari School of Medicine, Italy.
Gernone
A
A
Frassanito
M A
MA
Dammacco
F
F
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016305:Thymopentin; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013946:Thymopoietins; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D016305:Thymopentin