Clinical and immunologic evaluation of HIV-infected patients treated with dinitrochlorobenzene.
BACKGROUND
Promotion of cell-mediated immunity appears to be an important goal in the control of HIV infection. Topical dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) stimulates systemic cell-mediated immunity via the induction of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity.


OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to evaluate the clinical and immunologic effects of chronic DNCB application in a group of 24 HIV-infected patients.


METHODS
We observed the patients for a mean of 28 months (range, 14 to 44 months). Of the 24 patients, 13 continued weekly DNCB application throughout the study (the compliant group), and 11 discontinued DNCB use after a mean of 10.9 months (the noncompliant group).


RESULTS
Two of the 13 compliant patients progressed to AIDS; none of these patients died. In contrast, AIDS developed in 5 of the 11 noncompliant patients and four of these patients died. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets revealed significant increases in natural killer cells and activated/cytotoxic CD8 T-cell subsets in the compliant group. In contrast, these cellular immune-related lymphocyte subsets decreased in the noncompliant subjects. Although CD4 T-cell levels decreased in both groups, there was a significantly greater drop in the noncompliant patients. CD8+CD38+ T cells increased significantly in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic DNCB application appears to have a beneficial clinical and immunomodulatory effect in HIV-infected patients.
Stricker
R B
RB
HemaCare Corporation, San Francisco, CA 94108.
Elswood
B F
BF
Goldberg
B
B
Dumlao
C
C
Van Elk
J
J
Henry
J
J
Winger
E E
EE
Epstein
W L
WL
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance
D015703:Antigens, CD; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene