Variables in HIV-positive patients that serve to predict response to whole-body hyperthermia.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Variables in HIV-positive patients that serve to predict response to whole-body hyperthermia.

Diss Abstr Int [B]; 53(3):1287 1992. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/93687834
Parkinson JD; Univ. of Tennessee

Abstract: This study utilized a small population of HIV-positive, symptomatic patients (pts) who were being treated with whole-body hyperthermia for Kaposi's sarcoma. An effort was made to identify any trends in the properties of the pts that might aid in the prediction of the HIV response to hyperthermia. This would allow for better pt selection for future treatments. The group consisted of 10 HIV-positive, Caucasian young adult males with confirmed Kaposi's sarcoma. All the subjects had been on the usual AIDS therapies but were no longer responding. They were each administered 1 hyperthermic session in which their body temperature was elevated to 42 C and maintained for 1 hr. Pretreatment and 1 mo post-treatment p24 antigen levels (a marker of HIV activity) and CD4 cell counts (a marker of the status of the immune system) were obtained. The sample size did not lend itself to statistical procedures. However, the following trends and observations were noted. (1) Hyperthermia did not cause HIV replication, a fear that has blocked HIV-positive pts from access to hyperthermia. (2) Hyperthermia appeared to be a safe procedure, even in pts whose immune system was severely compromised. (3) The desired (decrease) effect on the p24 antigen level and the desired (increase) effect on the CD4 cell count appeared to be the greatest in pts whose immune system had not yet become severely depleted, suggesting early intervention with hyperthermia would be most beneficial. Certainly, care must be used in any attempt to generalize from this small population. However, the observations do suggest certain promising trends that should be investigated further before conclusions as to their significance can be determined. (Full text available from University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI, as Order No. AAD92-21795.)

Keywords: Adult CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes Human *Hypothermia, Induced HIV Core Protein p24/ANALYSIS HIV Infections/IMMUNOLOGY/*THERAPY Leukocyte Count Male THESIS
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M9320863

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