DECREASE IN VIRAL LOAD ASSOCIATED WITH TOPICAL DINITROCHLOROBENZENE THERAPY IN HIV DISEASE

Quantitative measurement of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA is being used to assess the efficacy of various treatment modalities in H IV disease. Topical dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) therapy has been assoc iated with improved clinical and immunologic parameters in HIV-infecte d patients, We have now examined the effect of topical DNCB treatment on plasma HIV RNA Bevels in a small prospective study, Eight HIV-infec ted subjects had T-cell counts and plasma viral load measured prior to initiation of DNCB therapy and 3-4 months after starting treatment. S ix patients who refused DNCB therapy served as simultaneous controls. The mean CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts did not change significantly in eit her group over the study period. In contrast, plasma HIV RNA levels de creased one-half to greater than one log in each DNCB-treated subject, and the decrease in viral copies was statistically significant (p = 0 .006). in the control group, plasma HIV RNA levels increased significa ntly over the course of the study (p = 0.037). We conclude that topica l DNCB therapy has the ability to lower viral load in HIV-infected pat ients, The long-term effect on viral burden of this inexpensive, readi ly available therapeutic modality merits further investigation.