The potential place of chloroquine in the treatment of HIV-1-infected patients.
BACKGROUND
Chloroquine has been reported to be endowed with anti-HIV-1 activity. We previously found its anti-HIV-1 activity to be additive to that of of the hydroxyurea plus didanosine combination.


OBJECTIVE
Here we wish to present reported data on chloroquine's effects other than its antiretroviral activity, that may be of benefit in the therapy of HIV-1-infected individuals.


RESULTS
(1) Chloroquine exerts an inhibitory effect on several AIDS-opportunistic pathogens, at least in vitro and, in some cases, in murine infections. (2) The drug exerts an inhibitory effect on the synthesis of several pro-inflammatory cytokines that may play a pathogenic role in the progression of HIV infection. (3) The drug has the potential to restrict tissular iron accumulation that may play a negative role in HIV infection. (4) The drug has practical advantages, as it is widely distributed, inexpensive and not stigmatizing. (5) We hypothesized that the drug, if given to HIV-positive breast-feeding mothers, may be of potential benefit in decreasing the rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1.


CONCLUSIONS
in view of the above-given data, combination therapy with chloroquine warrants clinical studies in HIV-1-infected patients, mainly in the setting of resource-poor countries.
Boelaert
J R
JR
Unit for Renal and Infectious Diseases, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Jan, B-8000 Brugge, Belgium. j.r.boelaert.brugge@unicall.be
Piette
J
J
Sperber
K
K
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D002738:Chloroquine; D007501:Iron