A randomized, controlled, phase II trial comparing escalating doses of subcutaneous interleukin-2 plus antiretrovirals versus antiretrovirals alone in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with CD4+ cell counts >/=350/mm3

J Infect Dis. 2000 May;181(5):1614-21. doi: 10.1086/315430. Epub 2000 May 15.

Abstract

A total of 73 patients with baseline CD4+ cell counts >/=350 cells/mm3 who were receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) were randomized to receive subcutaneous interleukin-2 (IL-2; n=36) in addition to ART or to continue ART alone (n=37). Subcutaneous IL-2 was delivered at 1 of 3 doses (1.5 million international units ¿MIU, 4.5 MIU, and 7.5 MIU per dose) by twice-daily injection for 5 consecutive days every 8 weeks. After 24 weeks, the time-weighted mean change from baseline CD4+ cell count was 210 cells/mm3 for recipients of subcutaneous IL-2, compared with 29 cells/mm3 for recipients of ART alone (P<.001). There were no significant differences between treatment groups for measures of plasma human immunodeficiency virus RNA (P=.851). Subcutaneous IL-2 delivered at doses of 4.5 MIU and 7.5 MIU resulted in significant increases in CD4+ cell count (P=.006 and P<.001, respectively), compared with that seen in control patients. These changes were not significant in the 1.5 MIU dose group compared with that in the control patients (P=.105). Side effects that occurred from subcutaneous IL-2 administration were generally low grade, of short duration, and readily managed in an outpatient environment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Didanosine / therapeutic use
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • Humans
  • Indinavir / therapeutic use
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Interleukin-2 / administration & dosage
  • Interleukin-2 / adverse effects
  • Interleukin-2 / therapeutic use*
  • Lamivudine / therapeutic use
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Nelfinavir / administration & dosage
  • Nevirapine / administration & dosage
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Ritonavir / administration & dosage
  • Saquinavir / administration & dosage
  • Stavudine / therapeutic use
  • Zalcitabine / administration & dosage
  • Zidovudine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Interleukin-2
  • RNA, Viral
  • Lamivudine
  • Zidovudine
  • Indinavir
  • Zalcitabine
  • Nevirapine
  • Stavudine
  • Nelfinavir
  • Didanosine
  • Saquinavir
  • Ritonavir