PASSIVE IMMUNOTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of passive immunotherapy for advan ced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a randomized, double -blind, controlled trial of human anti-HIV hyperimmune plasma was cond ucted. Sixty-three subjects with stage IV HIV disease (AIDS) were rand omized to receive 250 mL of either HIV-immune plasma or HIV antibody-n egative plasma every 4 weeks. Although nonsignificant trends toward im proved survival and delayed occurrence of a new opportunistic infectio n were noted, no significant effects on absolute CD4 lymphocyte counts or quantitative HIV viremia were seen. The only notable toxicity was the allergenicity to be expected from infusing plasma products, usuall y manifesting as urticaria. Thus, results do not rule out the potentia l usefulness of passive immunization with different preparations, but did fail to demonstrate clinical benefit of the product studied.