ISSN:
1569-8041
Keywords:
AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma
;
interleukin-4
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Purpose: To define the safety and toxicity of interleukin-4 (IL-4)when administered subcutaneously in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi'ssarcoma (AIDS-KS); to evaluate the effect of IL-4 on immunologic and virologicparameters; and to preliminarily assess the response rate of IL-4 in AIDS-KS. Patients andmethods: Eighteen patients with mucocutaneous, non-visceral AIDS-KS weretreated with IL-4 at a dose of 1 mcg/kg subcutaneously, daily untilunacceptable toxicity or for a maximum period of six months. Twelve(66%) patients had extensive mucocutaneous disease with over 25lesions. Ten patients had received prior systemic chemotherapy. Seventeen hadCD4+ lymphocyte counts less than 200/mm3. Results: The most common adverse effects included headache in78%, fever in 56%, chills in 44%, and edema in44%. Hematologic toxicities consisted of grade 4 neutropenia (less than500/mm3) in 33%, mild anemia in 22%. Transientelevation of liver enzymes was noted in 17%. A transient elevation inCD4+ lymphocyte counts occurred during the first two weeks of therapy. Fourof eleven patients tested showed marked decline in plasma HIV RNA after fourweeks. Partial remission was observed in one patient, lasting six months.Three other patients (17%) had stable disease: 7 weeks in one patient,and 10 weeks in each of the two other patients. Conclusion: Grade 4 neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count〈500/mm3) was the most common hematologic adverse effectwith IL-4 in patients with AIDS-KS. In contrast to in vitro findings,there was a decrease in plasma HIV RNA after four weeks of IL-4 therapy in themajority of patients tested. IL-4 produced minimal anti-tumor effects inAIDS-KS with one partial remission in a patient with CD4 lymphocyte countsover 200/mm3. Further studies of IL-4 in AIDS-KS may beconsidered in patients with better immune status.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008205424763
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