IMPROVED RESULTS OF DELAYED-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY SKIN TESTING IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS TREATED WITH TOPICAL DINITROCHLOROBENZENE

Background: Infection with HIV results in progressive deterioration of cell-mediated immunity, with consequent impairment of delayed-type hy persensitivity (DTH) skin reactivity. Topical dinitrochlorobenzene (DN CB) is thought to increase cellular immune function in HIV infection. Objective: Our goal was to evaluate changes in DTH skin reactivity of HIV-infected patients who were given DNCB therapy. Methods: DTH skin t esting and lymphocyte subset analysis were performed in bye HN-infecte d patients before the start of DNCB treatment and after 3 months of th erapy. Topical DNCB application was carried out by the patients accord ing to a standardized protocol. Results: DNCB therapy enhanced DTH ski n test responses in four of five patients. Three patients who were ane rgic before the start of treatment reacted to skin test antigens while using DNCB. The skin test results did not correlate with lymphocyte s ubset changes. Conclusion: DNCB treatment improves DTH skin test respo nses in HIV-infected patients, indicating a positive effect on cellula r immune function.