Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019693 (HIV)
 170,526 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Researchers have been looking for another therapy that would stimulate the body's immune system. One drug showing possibility is Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a naturally occurring chemical that already has approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for kidney cancer. IL-2 has been studied in conjunction with HIV infection since 1981. Clinical trials with the drug have demonstrated dramatic and sustained CD4 increases that apparently surpass those in other forms of therapy, including protease inhibitors. One major drawback to IL-2 treatment is its administration, which is either injection under the skin or infusion directly into a vein or muscle. Flu-like symptoms are a common side effect and may be lessened by antihistamines and ibuprofen given before treatment. Contact information for two clinical trials is provided.
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PMID:Beating HIV at its own game: the success of IL-2. 1136 82

Pegylation of interferon-alpha-2a is associated with improved sustained virological response rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Subsequently, combination therapy with peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) [Pegasys] and ribavirin (Copegus trade mark, Rebetol) was investigated to establish if the efficacy of peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) monotherapy could be further enhanced. Subcutaneous peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) was administered at a dosage of 180 micro g once weekly and oral ribavirin was usually administered at a dosage of 1000 or 1200 mg/day. In treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C, the sustained virological response rate (assessed 24 weeks after the end of a 48-week treatment period) was significantly higher in peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus ribavirin recipients than in peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus placebo recipients or interferon-alpha-2b plus ribavirin recipients (56% vs 29% and 44%). Retrospective analysis revealed that peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus ribavirin recipients who did not achieve an early virological response were unlikely to achieve a sustained response. Treatment with peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus another antiviral agent (ribavirin, mycophenolate mofetil, amantadine, or ribavirin and amantadine) was beneficial in patients with chronic hepatitis C who had relapsed during or after, or had not responded to, treatment with interferon-alpha-2b plus ribavirin. In the relapse study, sustained virological response rates in recipients of peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus ribavirin were 45% with and 38% without amantadine. Peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus ribavirin appears beneficial in patients with chronic hepatitis C considered difficult to treat (e.g. patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 4, African-American patients, patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis and patients co-infected with HIV). Flu-like symptoms and depression occurred significantly less frequently with peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus ribavirin than with interferon-alpha-2b plus ribavirin. Similar proportions of patients receiving peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus ribavirin, peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus placebo and interferon-alpha-2b plus ribavirin withdrew from treatment because of laboratory abnormalities or other adverse events. In conclusion, combination therapy comprising subcutaneous peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) and oral ribavirin is an important new treatment option for chronic hepatitis C. Peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus oral ribavirin is significantly more effective than peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) monotherapy or interferon-alpha-2b plus ribavirin at inducing a sustained virological response in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C. Preliminary data suggest that peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus ribavirin is also beneficial in treatment-experienced patients and in patients who have traditionally been considered difficult to treat. Combination therapy with peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) and oral ribavirin is poised to become a valuable first-line treatment option in chronic hepatitis C.
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PMID:Peginterferon-alpha-2a (40kD) plus ribavirin: a review of its use in the management of chronic hepatitis C. 1265 50

For the treatment of HBV/HIV-co-infection, study data on interferon-based therapy are very limited and insufficient to draw any specific conclusions. In contrast, data on HBV-polymerase inhibitors (lamivudine, adefovir, tenofovir) are available from controlled trials. Lamivudine is well tolerated and safe, however, development of HBV-resistance is frequent. Adefovir has a nephrotoxic potential and may at least theoretically induce antiretroviral resistance in HBV/HIV-patients treated with adefovir. Tenofovir has gastrointestinal side effects, is associated with hypophospatemia, which has not induced serious osteopenia so far and may have a nephrotoxic potential. For HCV/HIV-co-infection pegylated interferon alpha plus ribavirin is standard of care. Flu-like symptoms, fatigue and depressive mood changes are frequent. In patients with a history of neurotic or minor depression initiation of treatment with antidepressants before the start of interferon-based therapy should be considered. Weight loss may be pronounced in individual cases. A marked decrease in absolute, but not relative CD4 +/- cells is the rule, but no relevant increase in opportunistic infection was observed, and anaemia (<10 g/dl) is reported in up to 30% of patients. Neutropenia (< 1,000 cells/microl) is observed in up to 50% of the patients. Adverse events specific to the HCV/HIV-patient population as compared to HCV-mono-infected patients are the occurrence of hyperlactataemia/lactic acidosis and hepatic decompensation.
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PMID:Treatment of viral hepatitis in HIV-coinfected patients-adverse events and their management. 1635 79