title: Sustained increases in CD4 cell counts in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus type 1-seropositive patients treated with prednisolone for 1 year.
abstract: Forty-four asymptomatic patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), who had 200-799 CD4 cells/microL, received oral prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg for 6 months; 0.3 mg/kg thereafter). After 1 year of treatment, no major side effect or AIDS events had occurred. The percentage of DR+ and CD25+ phenotypes in CD4 T cells decreased significantly as did levels of serum IgG, IgA, and beta 2-microglobulin. Serum p24 antigen and HIV RNA levels remained stable. CD4 cell counts increased significantly at all time points (median increase at 1 year, 119 cells/microL). Peripheral blood mononuclear cell apoptosis after overnight stimulation with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies was strongly inhibited at all times. In asymptomatic seropositive patients, immunotherapy for 1 year with glucocorticoids was safe and led to sustained increases in CD4 cell counts and to improvement or stabilization of other biologic markers of disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immunologie des Tumeurs, Hôpital Laënnec, Faculté de Médecine Necker, Université René Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Andrieu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone