Document 0745
 DOCN  M9610745
 TI    Use of recombinant interferon-alpha in human immunodeficiency virus
       (HIV)-infected individuals.
 DT    9601
 AU    Rivero J; Limonta M; Aguilera A; Fraga M; Lopez Saura P; Santiago de las
       Vegas Sanatorium, Havana, Cuba.
 SO    Biotherapy. 1994;8(1):23-31. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96053657
 AB    RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) has
       anti-retroviral activity and is a possible HIV infection-limiting
       factor. The aim of this work is to prevent or delay disease progression
       in asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) carriers. DESIGN AND
       INTERVENTIONS: Recombinant IFN alpha-2b (3 x 10(6) IU 3 times weekly)
       was compared to no treatment (control) in a randomized trial. Endpoints
       were: (i) appearance of any CDC group IV symptoms and (ii) disease
       progression (which excluded shifts to group IVC2 or reversible IVA, or
       IVB). The trial lasted from October 1987 to February 1992. SETTING: The
       trial was performed at the Santiago de las Vegas sanatorium, a
       specialized institution for the care of HIV-infected and AIDS patients.
       POPULATION: Subjects were anti-HIV-1 seropositive, Western
       blot-confirmed, asymptomatic (CDC group II), or with generalized
       lymphadenopathies (CDC group III). The groups had 79 (control) and 71
       (IFN) patients. MAIN RESULTS: Long-term IFN-alpha treatments
       significantly reduced the proportion of patients who shifted to any
       group IV (control: 46/79; IFN: 14/71; p < 0.001) or developed AIDS
       (control: 27/79; IFN: 12/71; p < 0.05). IFN also delayed progression to
       AIDS (95% confidence interval for 0.5 probability of progression) from
       67-83 to 116-180 months after infection. The IFN group had significantly
       less opportunistic infections and non-infectious complications. CD4 cell
       count and hemoglobin decreased in the control but not in the IFN group.
       Fewer IFN-treated patients developed positive serum HIV antigen
       detection. CONCLUSION: IFN alpha treatment during the early stages of
       infection seems to be beneficial to the patients.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL  CD4-CD8 Ratio  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/COMPLICATIONS/*THERAPY  HIV Seropositivity  *HIV-1
       Injections, Intramuscular  Interferon Alfa-2b/ADMINISTRATION &
       DOSAGE/ADVERSE EFFECTS/  *THERAPEUTIC USE  Male  Middle Age  CLINICAL
       TRIAL  JOURNAL ARTICLE  RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

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