title: Preliminary efficacy and safety of oral suspension SH, combination of five chinese medicinal herbs, in people living with HIV/AIDS ; the phase I/II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of the mixture of drug extracts from 5 Chinese medicinal herbs (SH), in the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Open-label study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sanpatong Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV-1 infected adults with a CD4 cell count of more than 200 cell/mm3 and HIV-1 RNA > 20,000 copies/ml.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received an oral suspension of SH, a combination of 5 Chinese medicinal herbs namely Glycyrrhiza glaba L., Artemisia capillaris Thumb., Morus alba L., Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge., Carthamus tinctorius L., 5 g or 30 ml, in 3 divided doses after meals, plus sulfamethozaxole/ trimethoprim, 400/80 mg tablet, once daily after breakfast for 12 weeks. During the treatment and the follow up period, the absolute CD4 cell count and the plasma HIV-1 RNA were monitored. Adverse events were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 28 enrolled patients, the number of positive response patients with reduction of plasma HIV-1 RNA more than 0.5 log during the treatment and follow up period were 4-10 (14.2-35.7%) while the number of negative response patients who had plasma HIV-1 RNA rising at least 0.5 log were 2-4 (0-14.2%). The means viral load at week 0 (baseline), 12 and 20 were 4.94, 4.83 and 4.76 log copies/ml, which were slightly declined Whilst, the mean absolute CD4 cell count of week 0 (baseline), 4, 8, 12, and 20 fluctuated within the baseline, range of 382.1, 404.2, 359.4, 404.1, 360.2 cell/mm3, respectively. All subjects had good compliance without any serious adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under the condition used, SH drug therapy is safe. Satisfactory positive response, by decreased viral load of more than 0.5 log, was found in 14%-35% of HIV-positive patients. However, the immunologic response, an increase of CD4 cell count was not clearly demonstrated. The clinical benefit of SH needs more thorough scientific support before being prescribed as adjunctive therapy for treating PLWHA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.
authors.forename: Mayura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusum
authors.forename: Virat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Klinbuayaem
authors.forename: Malee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bunjob
authors.forename: Somchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sangkitporn
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D013535:Suspensions; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012367:RNA, Viral; D013535:Suspensions