Coadministration of zidovudine and interleukin-2 increases absolute CD4 cells in subjects with Walter Reed stage 2 human immunodeficiency virus infection: results of ACTG protocol 042.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) can increase numbers of absolute CD4 cells in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus who are receiving antiretroviral therapy. Twenty-five subjects with > 400/mm3 absolute CD4 cells received zidovudine and low-dose intravenous or subcutaneous IL-2 (< or = 10(6) U/m2). Absolute CD4 cells increased significantly during IL-2 treatment, and 56% of the subjects achieved a maximal increase of > or = 500 cells/mm3. A dose-response relationship favored increasing IL-2 doses, and subcutaneous delivery offered greater increases than intravenous administration. Fifteen subjects had persistent increases of > or = 100 cells/mm3 6 weeks after IL-2 was discontinued. No changes occurred in delayed-type hypersensitivity or helper T cell responses to recall antigens. Cell-mediated cytotoxicities increased against Daudi cells. IL-2 was well tolerated and only 1 subject required dose reduction. Relatively low-dose IL-2 delivered by subcutaneous or intravenous routes may provide an important complement to antiretroviral therapy to increase absolute CD4 cells with the potential for less toxicity than with higher IL-2 doses.
Bartlett
J A
JA
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA.
Berend
C
C
Petroni
G R
GR
Ottinger
J
J
Tyler
D L
DL
Pettinelli
C
C
Weinhold
K J
KJ
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015215:Zidovudine