TIME-COURSE OF NATURAL-KILLER-CELL ACTIVI TY AND INTERFERON STATUS INPATIENTS WITH RELAPSING HERPES GENITALIS IN THE COURSE OF THERAPY WITH RHIDOSTIN

Natural killer cell activity (NK) in parallel with the interferon (IFN )-alpha and IFN-gamma production as well as with a level of IFN in the blood serum were studied in 15 patients with relapsing herpes genital is (RHG). Rhidostin, well known as an IFN-alpha inducer, was used in a dose of 2 mg once daily for 3 days subcutaneously up to a total dose of 8 mg of the preparation. The NK cell activity and IFN-alpha product ion were shown to decrease in RHG more significantly in the stage of r emission than during the relapse of the process. As a result of rhidos tin therapy the NK cell activity was restored simultaneously with the positive clinical effect of the drug. Rhidostin was found to be an eff icient modifier of the IFN system functioning in patients with RHG. Th e above data allow a conclusion that rhidostin exhibiting an independe nt antiviral and immunostimulating action might be useful in patients with a remission of RHG for prevention of its relapses.