Document 2824
 DOCN  M94A2824
 TI    Passive immunotherapy (PIT) in HIV disease: study of patients and
       donors.
 DT    9412
 AU    Bainbridge D; Karpas A; Dept Immunology, Royal London Hospital, UK.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):216 (abstract no. PB0293). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369751
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of PIT on patients and donors.
       METHODS: Plasma was collected from healthy HIV+ individuals with a CD4+
       T-cell count of > 450 mm3. Patients with AIDS received 500 ml, those
       with ARC 250 ml and those with pre-AIDS 150 ml at monthly transfusions.
       Both donors and patients were monitored for anti-HIV antibodies and
       lymphocyte counts. RESULTS: Plasma transfusion resulted in a sustained
       clearance of HIV-1 viraemia; clinical improvement in AIDS; remission in
       ARC and delay of the onset of the disease in pre-AIDS patients. Regular
       plasmapheresis led to an increase in CD4+ T-cell counts in many donors
       whilst their levels of anti-HIV-1 antibodies remained stable or
       increased. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: PIT is a non-toxic and safe
       procedure which seems to benefit patients with HIV disease. It appears
       that, in the earlier stages of the disease (ARC and pre-AIDS), the
       benefit is of longer term. Therefore PIT should start early in the
       disease. Most interesting was the observation that plasmapheresis
       appears to improve the CD4+ T-cell counts of the donors. Hence it would
       not be unreasonable to suggest that plasma donation might also delay the
       progression of the disease.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/THERAPY  AIDS-Related Complex/THERAPY
       *Blood Transfusion  Human  HIV Antibodies/BLOOD  HIV Antigens/BLOOD  HIV
       Infections/BLOOD/*THERAPY  HIV-1/IMMUNOLOGY/ISOLATION & PURIF
       *Immunization, Passive  Leukocyte Count  *Plasmapheresis  Treatment
       Outcome  T4 Lymphocytes  Viremia/THERAPY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).