High-dose interferon- alpha 2a exerts potent activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 not associated with antitumor activity in subjects with Kaposi's sarcoma

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 1997-09, Vol.176 (3), p.811-814
• Main Authors: Jos Frissen, PH, De Wolf, F, Reiss, P, Bakker, PJM, Veenhof, CHN, Danner, SA, Goudsmit, J, Lange, JMA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-1899
• DOI: 10.1086/517309

Anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activity was assessed in HIV-1-infected homosexual and bisexual men receiving 18-36 MIU /day of recombinant interferon (IFN)- alpha 2a for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The median baseline HIV-1 RNA level was 4.99 log sub(10) copies/mL. Seventeen subjects (68%) showed an RNA decline greater than or equal to 5 log sub(10)/mL, with a maximum at week 4 (median decline = 1.91, range = 3.64-1.15; P = .0007), after which RNA levels stabilized. Eight subjects (32%) with lower median initial CD4 super(+) T cell counts (60 vs. 350 x 10 super(6) /L; P = .01) did not show RNA responses. Neither RNA nor KS responses were negatively affected by IFN- alpha 2a dose modifications. Anti-HIV responses of KS responders (n = 15) and nonresponders (n = 10) did not differ. High-dose IFN- alpha can exert potent anti-HIV activity that is not associated with anti-KS activity.