title: Clinical, immunological, and virological effects of ampligen, a mismatched double-stranded RNA, in patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex.
abstract: 10 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), AIDS-related complex (ARC), or lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS) were given 200-250 mg ampligen, a mismatched double-stranded (ds) RNA with in-vitro antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), twice a week for up to 18 weeks, without side-effects or toxicity. In all 9 patients who were positive for HIV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells before therapy, levels became undetectable between days 10 and 40 of the start of therapy. 6 of the 7 patients with ARC or LAS also showed a progressive reduction in HIV load as measured by co-culture assays. All 10 patients had augmentation of delayed-type hypersensitivity skin reactions. Other changes noted during ampligen therapy included an increase in or maintenance of numbers of helper-inducer T lymphocytes, improvements in HIV-related symptoms, rises in titre of neutralising antibodies against HIV, and restoration of proper functioning of the natural lymphocyte antiviral dsRNA-dependent (2'-5'-oligoadenylate/RNA-ase L) pathway. Thus, in the short term, ampligen seems to have the dual ability to restore immunological function and to control HIV replication.
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D006801:Humans; D011070:Poly I-C; D011072:Poly U; D011131:Polyribonucleotides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D011131:Polyribonucleotides; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011072:Poly U; C047490:poly(I).poly(c12,U); D011070:Poly I-C