title: Long-term immunotherapy in HIV infection, combined with short-term antiretroviral treatment.
abstract: Forty asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals with CD4+ lymphocyte levels above 400x10(6)/l were immunized over 5 years with recombinant envelope glycoprotein gp160 (rgp160). After 5 years there was a trend towards more non-progressors in the immunized group as compared to the matched controls. Since immunizations could activate HIV, the first 6 immunizations were followed by 2 weeks of zidovudine or placebo, double-blind. The viral load did not change during the first 6 months and was not different from that of the matched controls after 5 years. The best effect on CD4+ lymphocyte development was seen in individuals with a high viral load randomized to rgp160+zidovudine and in individuals with a low viral load randomized to rgp160+placebo. We conclude that rgp160 is safe and results in temporarily improved CD4+ development. Concomitant antiviral treatment might be of benefit, especially in patients with a more advanced disease and can today be given with more effective combinations.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institute, Department of Gay Men's Health Clinic, Venhälsan at Stockholm Söder Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bratt
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sandström
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gilljam
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hinkula
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Redfield
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wahren
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C053473:VaxSyn HIV-1 (gp160) vaccine; D015215:Zidovudine