Sulfasalazine: arthritis drug increases CD4 count? Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003. 800-458-5231 ext. 5023. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Sulfasalazine: arthritis drug increases CD4 count? Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003. 800-458-5231 ext. 5023.

AIDS Treat News. 1995 Mar 3;(no 218):6-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE AIDS/95700354
Smith D

Abstract: Sulfasalazine, a drug commonly used to treat arthritis, has been shown to increase CD4 counts in people with HIV, substantially in some patients. Researchers published their findings in April's Journal of Rheumatology (vol. 21, no. 4). Sulfasalazine has been known to suppress certain inflammatory responses of the immune system, including the production of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukins 1 and 2; and to be a scavenger of superoxide radicals thought to provoke HIV by affecting the long terminal repeat of the virus. If sulfasalazine lowers oxidative stress, or pacifies certain overactive components of the immune response, it would be consistent with some current directions in HIV research. Side effects of the drug have been a sulfa-like reaction in some patients, bone marrow suppression with long-term use, and immunosuppression affecting cytokine production. CD4 counts are considered poor markers for HIV activity. There are tests, however, that bypass these markers to identify the impact of treatments like sulfasalazine on viral load. A sulfasalazine control trial headed by Dr. Eddys Disla began recruiting March 1st in the New York area (212) 955-6996. Those with anecdotal experience using sulfasalazine are asked to call Denny Smith or John James at (415) 255-0588.
Keywords: Adjuvants, Immunologic/PHARMACOLOGY/*THERAPEUTIC USE Cytokines/BIOSYNTHESIS *CD4 Lymphocyte Count Free Radical Scavengers Human HIV/PHYSIOLOGY HIV Infections/BLOOD/*DRUG THERAPY Sulfasalazine/PHARMACOLOGY/*THERAPEUTIC USE Superoxides Virus Replication NEWSLETTER ARTICLEKWDadjuvants,immunologic/pharmacology/KWDtherapeuticusecytokines/biosynthesisKWDcd4lymphocytecountfreeradicalscavengershumanhiv/physiologyhivinfections/blood/KWDdrugtherapysulfasalazine/pharmacology/KWDtherapeuticusesuperoxidesvirusreplicationnewsletterarticle
951030
M95A0919

Copyright © 1995 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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