Viral load, CD4 percentage, and delayed-type hypersensitivity in subjects receiving the HIV-1 immunogen and antiviral drug therapy

J Clin Immunol. 1996 Sep;16(5):266-71. doi: 10.1007/BF01541391.

Abstract

Two trials of subjects inoculated with the inactivated, gp120-depleted HIV-1 Immunogen are reported. In one study, in which 19 subjects received ZDV and 8 subjects received ddI, treatment with the HIV-1 Immunogen did not affect the pharmacokinetic parameters of the antiviral drugs. In another study, 65 subjects who were previously immunized with the HIV-1 Immunogen over a mean period of 4.0 years (range, 1.2-5.4 years) received inoculations at 0 and 6 months. At some point during this 48-week study, 72% of the subjects (47/65) were receiving antiviral drug therapy. The HIV-1 DNA load in CD4 cells and CD4 percentage were found to be stable over the 48-week period. Delayed-type hypersensitivity to HIV-1 antigens increased after two inoculations with the HIV-1 Immunogen. In these two trials, no serious treatment-related adverse events were documented in the subjects. The two studies presented herein are the first to suggest that an immune-based therapy such as the HIV-1 Immunogen can be combined safely with antiviral drugs, supporting further study to evaluate the clinical utility of this approach.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count / drug effects
  • Didanosine / pharmacokinetics
  • Didanosine / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / virology*
  • Immunotherapy, Active
  • Viral Load*
  • Zidovudine / pharmacokinetics
  • Zidovudine / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • HIV-1 immunogen, incomplete Freund's adjuvant
  • Zidovudine
  • Didanosine