Td. Horn et al., EFFECTS OF PSORALEN PLUS UVA RADIATION (PUVA) ON HIV-1 IN HUMAN-BEINGS - A PILOT-STUDY, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 31(5), 1994, pp. 735-740
Background: Laboratory data document the activation of the HIV-1 genom
e on exposure to UV radiation, including PUVA. The overall effects of
UV radiation exposure on HIV-1 infection in human beings are unknown.
Objective: Our purpose was to observe CD4 cell counts and quantitative
markers of HIV-1 load in late-stage HIV-1-infected human beings recei
ving PUVA for various cutaneous diseases. Methods: Samples of peripher
al blood were obtained on days 0, 14, 30, and 60 of PUVA administered
in therapeutic doses. Number of CD4(+) T lymphocytes was determined by
flow cytometry, and HIV-1 load was measured by semiquantitative polym
erase chain reaction for viral genome in peripheral blood mononuclear
cells, semiquantitative RNA-polymerase chain reaction for HIV-1 RNA in
serum, and determination of p24 in serum. Results: No significant cha
nges in the measurements were observed. Conclusion: This study did not
detect a deleterious effect on CD4 cell count or HIV-1 load during 2
months of PUVA treatment for patients in late stages of infection, wit
h low CD4 cell counts and high HIV-1 loads.