Effects of glycyrrhizin (SNMC: stronger Neo-Minophagen C) in hemophilia patients with HIV infection.
Glycyrrhizin (GL) not only has an inhibitory effect on HIV replication but also exhibits interferon-inducing and natural killer (NK)-enhancing effects and improves liver dysfunction. Thus, large doses of GL (200-800 mg/day) were intravenously administered for more than 8 weeks to 9 hemophilia A patients with HIV infection (asymptomatic carrier, AC). Lymphocyte count increased in all 9 cases. OKT4 OKT8 ratio was elevated in 6 out of the 9 cases and OKT4-positive lymphocytes increased in 8 out of the 9 cases; 66.7% and 88.9% improvement, respectively. Changes in NK cell activity and mitogenic responsiveness to PHA, Con A and PWM were not significant. Liver dysfunction, noted in 4 cases, clearly improved. Serum electrolytes, protein, lipids, and renal function were within normal levels and no serious side-effects were observed during treatment. On the other hand, in 3 cases of hemophilia without HIV infection, the number of OKT4 lymphocytes was not significantly altered during treatment. From these results, large dose administration of GL to HIV-positive hemophilia patients (AC) seems to be effective in preventing development of AC into AIDS by raising the number of decreased OKT4 lymphocytes and improving liver dysfunction.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine.
K
K
Mori
H
H
Sakai
S
S
Suzuki
K
K
Sugai
Y
Y
Akutsu
M
M
Ishikawa
Y
Y
Seino
N
N
Ishida
T
T
Uchida
S
S
Kariyone
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008055:Lipids; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid