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Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) reduced immune activation and increased CD4 cells in HIV-positive people, according to a study published in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. The new research adds further evidence to the theory that over-activation of the immune system is responsible for the loss of CD4 cells in HIV disease.
Though the immune system does need to be “activated” to some degree in order to respond to HIV infection, many researchers have theorized that an overactive immune system response to the virus is what actually leads to the loss of CD4 cells and, eventually, AIDS. To test this theory, Joost Vermeulen, MD, of the International Antiviral Therepy Evaluation Centre (IATEC) in Amsterdam, and his colleagues enrolled six HIV-positive patients who had never taken antiretroviral treatment and were not currently on antiretrovirals. Vermeulen’s group gave the patients two IVIG injections four weeks apart.
Following the first IVIG treatment, the number of activated CD4 cells in the patients dropped by 3.5 percent, and the number of activated CD8 cells dropped by 5 percent. The total CD4 count increased by an average of 55 cells by the fourth day following the first treatment. The patients’ viral load also increased temporarily on the first day following the injection, but returned to pretreatment levels by day 7. The researchers had too few blood samples to measure the impact of the second dose.
Because the study was so small and did not have a placebo control arm, Vermeulen’s team can’t recommend that HIV-positive patients begin using IVIG. They do, however, state that the study results strongly suggest that immune activation does influence CD4 counts and that additional studies should be conducted.
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Previous Comments:
comments 1 - 5 (of 5 total)
Blessed, Texas, 2008-01-06 20:52:59
I truly hope that someone with a big enopugh budget picks up this study and finds out. For such an advanced society this should not be left to chance and the research should be assumed with stealth given the growing number of HIV pos patients.
Paul, Cresskill, NJ, 2007-12-23 10:33:32
My partner is on IVIG for CIDP, a rare neurological disease and I have often wondered what affect it may have on HIV and CD4. I'm glad to see that perhaps more reserach will be done in this area as I am so familiar with IVIG and my partner's overactive immune system (btw, he's HIV negative). PLEASE keep us informed of any updates.
Peggie, , 2007-12-20 02:19:13
Dear all, I am pos and i am on ARVs. Have serious problems of lipo. thus big tummy, thin legs & enlarged mumps. I need urgent help. Pls help.
Betty, San Diego, 2007-12-19 18:18:08
My son was just a baby in 94 when they put him on once a month IVIG and it helped him turn the corner! I fully agree, it works!
Dennis A Gourdeau, Tampa Fl 33614, 2007-12-19 13:01:18
Back in 2005 I was in a Study that turned out to be a medicare fraud that was infusing IVIG 3 times per week for 3 months. have never felt better,and after 3 months my cd4's had risen by 248 points to a total of 560. IVIG works
