[A report on 8 seronegative converted HIV/AIDS patients with traditional Chinese medicine].
OBJECTIVE
For the first time, serum anti-HIV antibody negative conversion was being reported.


METHODS
Eight confirmed HIV/AIDS patients (AC1, ARC 6, AIDS 1) were treated with TCM recipes (802, 806, 809, 810, Shengmaiyin, ZY-1), recheck the serum antibody and immunological function and intranuclear HIV-DNA was investigated with PCR amplifying assay and were long-term followed-up.


RESULTS
After medication for 87-463 days, seronegative conversion occurred, PCR assay revealed that 5 cases were PCR(+), 2 of them(-), 1 turned seropositive again in the early stage. Observed continuously for 11-49 months, the "serum negative and intranuclear positive" state maintained. These patients belonged to immunosilent HIV-infection. The immunological function of all seronegative converted patients were good.


CONCLUSIONS
AIDS is a reversible disease. Using medicinal herbs to enhance the immune function will facilitate the appearance of seronegative conversion, which has not been reported before. If it could be further confirmed, its mechanism elucidated, this may greatly strengthen the confidence of the patients.
Lu
W B
WB
China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing.
Wen
R X
RX
Guan
C F
CF
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002353:Carrier State / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D015483:HIV Antibodies