Document 2787
 DOCN  M94A2787
 TI    Beneficial effects of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) in the
       treatment of ARC patients.
 DT    9412
 AU    Saint-Marc T; Berra N; Perraud P; Livrozet JM; Fournier F; Touraine JL;
       Transplantation & Clinical Immunology Unit, Hop. E. Herriot,; Lyon,
       France.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):225 (abstract no. PB0330). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369788
 AB    OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the clinical and immunological effects of
       systematic and regular infusions of immunoglobulins in adult patients
       with a severe deficiency of cell-mediated immunity and of antibody
       production related to HIV infection. METHODS: Starting in January 1991,
       44 ARC patients were enrolled in a prospective clinical trial. The
       patients were randomized to receive either no additional treatment or a
       monthly infusion of IVIg (Endobulin, ImmunoFrance) at the dose of
       200mg/kg for 24 months. The patients were evaluated every 4 weeks for
       clinical examination and routine laboratory tests and every 12 weeks for
       cell surface markers (CD4, CD8, ...). The clinical objectives were to
       determine whether IVIg prevented the occurrence of an AIDS-defining
       opportunistic infection (OI) or Kaposi Sarcoma and whether IVIg had an
       effect on survival. RESULTS: 39 patients were evaluable for analysis.
       There were a total of 14 patients progressing to a first AIDS-defining
       OI, 4 in the IVIg group and 10 in the control group. IVIg significantly
       reduced the incidence of OI (p < 0.05). 4 patients developed Kaposi
       Sarcoma, 3 in the treated group and 1 in the control group (no
       statistical difference). 3 deaths occurred in the treated group and 6 in
       the control group. There were a significant difference in the CD4+ and
       CD8+ cell count with an increase in CD8+ and a stabilisation in CD4+ in
       the treated group while a decrease of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells was
       noticed in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results confirm our
       previous finding of a significant benefit of IVIg in AIDS patients and
       they show that ARC patients develop less infections. IVIg delays
       progression of the disease and of death in HIV-infected patients.
 DE    Adult  AIDS-Related Complex/MORTALITY/*THERAPY  AIDS-Related
       Opportunistic Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION &  CONTROL  Human
       Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/*THERAPEUTIC USE  Leukocyte Count
       Prospective Studies  Sarcoma, Kaposi's/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION & CONTROL
       T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic  Treatment Outcome  T4 Lymphocytes  CLINICAL
       TRIAL  MEETING ABSTRACT  RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

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