(ATN) Passive Immunotherapy: Major New Article -- And Patient Support Group in San Francisco

(ATN) Passive Immunotherapy: Major New Article -- And Patient Support Group in San Francisco

AIDS TREATMENT NEWS No. 070 - December 2, 1988
John S. James

In October, AIDS Treatment News (issue #67) reported on passive immunotherapy, a treatment which consists of taking plasma from healthy HIV-positive donors who have high levels of antibodies against the core proteins of the AIDS virus, and infusing the plasma into persons who have lost the ability to produce those protective antibodies. That work, by researchers at the London Hospital Medical College, the University of Illinois College of Medicine, and Abbott Laboratories, had been presented at the Stockholm AIDS conference in June, 1988, and also published in The Lancet, September 17, 1988.

Now other researchers at Cambridge University in England have published a report of their study of ten patients with AIDS or ARC who received monthly passive immunotherapy treatments in the December issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (U. S.). We have not seen this article before going to press. But news reports quoted the researchers as saying that the virus disappeared from the blood of all ten, nine of whom are still alive and reasonably healthy nine months later.

A principal developer of the treatment, Dr. Abraham Karpas, assistant director for research for the Department of Hematological Medicine at Cambridge University in England, described passive immunotherapy as completely nontoxic, and said that while more studies are needed, he saw no reason it could not be made available now.

A year ago August, Dr. Karpas noted that in a small test with four patients, "there was considerable subjective improvement in the patients noted by both the medical and nursing staff".

The October/November issue of Positive Directions News, a publication of Positive Directions, an association of HIV-positive persons in Boston, MA., interviewed AIDS researcher Dr. Clyde Crumpacker of Harvard Medical School about the Stockholm AIDS conference (June 1988). Most of the published interview concerned passive immunotherapy, which Dr. Crumpacker called one of the most interesting findings presented at that conference. (Positive Directions News can be reached at 617/787-8770.)

Since our earlier article, we have heard the following from physicians:

(1) Precautions must be taken to minimize any risk of transmitting different strains of HIV, or any other viruses, to the recipient. Viral cultures may be used to make sure the donor's HIV has been killed by the heat treatment of the plasma.

(2) The plasmapheresis step might be avoided, simply by centrifuging tubes of blood to obtain the plasma, and not returning cells to the donor. Avoiding plasmapheresis, which requires complex equipment, could make the treatment less expensive and easier to administer. (The drawback is that the donor could not donate as often.)

(3) There is concern that red tape could delay the availa- bility of this treatment.

A patient support group on plasmapheresis, focused especially on making it available, is being started in San Francisco. The first meeting will be Monday December 12 at 7: 30 PM. For location or other information call Richard, 824-2016.

881202
ATN07003

Copyright © 1988 - AIDS Treatment News. Permission granted for noncommercial reproduction, provided that our address and phone number are included if more than short quotations are used. Subscription lists are kept confidential. AIDS Treatment News, Subscription and Editorial Office: 1233 Locust St., 5th floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 800/TREAT-1-2 toll-free email: aidsnews@critpath.org http://www.aidsnews.org

Subscription Information: Call 800/TREAT-1-2: Businesses, Institutions, Professionals: $270/year. Includes early delivery of an extra copy by email. Nonprofit organizations: $135/year. Includes early delivery of an extra copy by email. Individuals: $120/year, or $70 for six months. Special discount for persons with financial difficulties: $54/year, or $30 for six months. If you cannot afford a subscription, please write or call. Outside North, Central, or South America, add air mail postage: $20/year, $10 for six months. Back issues available. Fax subscriptions, bulk rates, and multiple subscriptions are available; contact our office for details. Please send U.S. funds: personal check or bank draft, international postal money order, or travelers checks. VISA, Mastercard, and purchase orders also accepted. ISSN # 1052-4207

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1988. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1988. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .