Preliminary results on clinical and immunological effects of thymopentin in AIDS.
In an open study, 10 African patients with AIDS were treated with thymopentin 50 mg i.v. 3 times a week for 2 consecutive months: 1 month by i.v. direct injections and 1 month by 30-min i.v. infusions. In group A there were 6 patients with AIDS-lymphadenopathy characterized by weight loss, chronic fever, generalized lymphadenopathy and OKT-4 to OKT-8 ratio below 0.2. Group B consisted of 4 patients with AIDS and opportunistic infections. Immunological studies performed before, during and after therapy included lymphocyte count, T-cell subsets assessment, study of blastogenic response of lymphocytes to PHA and delayed hypersensitivity skin testing to 5 antigens. In group A, results after thymopentin i.v. direct injections showed a significant increase in OKT-3 and OKT-8 cells. After thymopentin i.v. infusion, blastogenic response to PHA increased significantly as compared with pretherapy values and to the values after i.v. direct injections. At the end of infusion therapy, skin tests became positive for 3 antigens (range 2-4). Furthermore, all 6 patients noted subjective improvement associated with significant weight gain and disappearance of fever. In contrast, in group B the clinical and immunological status worsened during therapy and two patients died from opportunistic infections. This preliminary study suggests that i.v. infusion with thymopentin may be useful in the early phase of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome as it produces symptomatic and immunological improvement.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D016305:Thymopentin; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013946:Thymopoietins; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D016305:Thymopentin