title: Oxidative stress in viral hepatitis and AIDS.
abstract: Dominant types of viral hepatitis are presently A, B, and C with prophylactic immunization available only for A and B. Hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection constitute a worldwide scourge and treatment is far from satisfactory. Each produces severe oxidative stress (OS) and secondary cellular damage of varying severity and, as in toxic hepatitis, progression and regression are dependent on redox balance between oxidation and antioxidation. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that xenobiotics and co-infections exert cumulative, detrimental effects on their pathogeneses and further deplete antioxidants. It is proposed therefore that in the clinical management of these infections and especially in their early stages, considerable benefit should accrue from antioxidant repletion at dosages substantially above recommended daily allowances (RDAs) in conjunction with a nutritious high protein diet. Because plasma zinc and selenium concentrations are very low, their replenishment by high dosages is urgent and mandatory particularly in advanced HIV infections bordering on acrodermatitis enteropathica. Also recommended is their long-term continuance at high normal levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box 7343, Wellington South, New Zealand. wstehbens@wnmeds.ac.nz
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Stehbens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015032:Zinc