Intralymphatic interleukin-2 in combination with zidovudine for the therapy of patients with AIDS

In a pilot study the safety and therapeutic effects of an immunostimulatory intralymphatic treatment with natural human interleukin-2 (IL-2) in combin ation with zidovudine were evaluated in nine patients with AIDS. Therapy,vi th IL-2 consisted of one subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mu g/kg IL-2, follow ed by four intralymphatic IL-2 infusions of 0.1 mu g/kg each within a perio d of up to 15 days. Enlargement of lymph nodes was seen in six and a transi ent increase of CD4 cells in five out of nine persons in association with t he IL-2 therapy. An increase of HIV p24-antigenemia was observed only in th e two patients in whom zidovudine dosage had to be reduced because of side effects. Moderate clinical side effects occurred in eight of the nine patie nts. Four patients developed zidovudine associated anemia. Six participants showed a favourable course of disease with survival of 25 to 54 months (me dian 30 months) despite a previous diagnosis of manifest AIDS before IL-2 t herapy This pilot study demonstrates that a combination therapy with intral ymphatic IL-2 and zidovudine can induce positive immunomodulatory effects, even in the presence of manifest AIDS. Further studies should explore the t olerability and effects of a prolonged therapy with. IL-2 in combination wi th a more potent antiviral drag combination therapy.