Marseille 2007
| Abstract #601 - Gamma-Interferon (Ingaron) in the Treatment of HIV/AIDS Patients with Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) not Previously on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) | ||||
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Session: 6.103: Posters A (Poster) on Monday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Prof Tamara Sologub - Mechnikov Medical Academy, Russian Federation |
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| Additional Authors: Dr Auwal Yola, Prof Alexandr Ivanov, Dr Igor Volchek, | ||||
| Aim: To obtain preliminary information on the safety, immunologic and virologic effects of IFN-gamma in adults co-infected with HIV and TB with immune reserve (CD4 T-cell count above 350 cells/ml) on TB medication but not on antiretroviral therapy. | ||||
| Method / Issue: 51 HIV-infected persons newly diagnosed with active PTB were recruited in the special HIV and TB unit of the Second City Tuberculosis Hospital in St.Petersburg, Russia into an observational, prospective study between March and December 2005. All the patients had a median CD4 cell count of above 350 cells/ml and were not previously on HAART. 21 patients (41.2%), apart from standard TB medication also received IFN-gamma injection (Ingaron) at a dose of 500,000 IU subcutaneously three times weekly for eight weeks, while the rest 30 (58.8%)received similar TB treatment plus placebo. They were assesses clinically weekly, while laboratory investigations were conducted at the initiation of therapy and at weeks 4 and 8. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Interium assessment of the outcome of TB treatment at 8 weeks of follow up showed a remarkable improvement of clinical conditions and immunologic responses of the patients receiving IFN-gamma (Ingaron) as against those in the control group. In general IFN-gamma therapy was well tolerated. The major adverse event thought to be possibly IFN-gamma associated was low grade fever. Increase in CD4+ lymphocyte counts and decrease in plasma HIV RNA concentrations were observed in the study group. CD4+ increased from 656.2+/-41.3 to 728.4+/-74.7 cells/ml (p>0.05) while plasma RNA became undetectable in 11 patients in the study group as against nil in the control group. | ||||
| Discussion: IFN-gamma therapy in patients co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis receiving TB medication is safe, improves clinical outcome and enhances host defense mechanism. Larger studies will be needed to assess the drug's long term clinical efficacy in the treatment of HIV-associated complications such as PTB. | ||||
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