Effect of fuzheng paidu pian on the changes of CD4+Tlymphocytes in early infective phase of asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus

Bo PENG; Xuewei LIU; Huijun GUO

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Anti-virus therapy is not suitable for the patients who have asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); otherwise, it is significant for early intervention of Chinese herbs to cure asymptomatic HIV.

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the interventional effects of fuzheng paidu pian on level of CD4+T lymphocytes and changes of plasma viral vector expression in early phase of asymptomatic HIV infection.

DESIGN:

Observational contrast study.

SETTING:

Institute of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

PARTICIPANTS:

A total of 69 asymptomatic HIV patients, who were infected by paid blood, were randomly selected from some countryside in November 2005. There were 39 males and 30 females. Their ages ranged from 30 to 61 years and the mean age was (43±8) years, and the mean course was (13±3) years. Inclusion criteria ① coincident with diagnostic criteria of asymptomatic HIV infection published by National AIDS committee (modified in 2005); ②from 18 to 65 years old; ③ 200/mm3 ≤CD4+T lymphocyte count ＜ 600/mm3; ④ Patients did not treat with antiviral and other drugs; ⑤ All patients provided the confirmed consent. Exclusion criteria ① severe liver and renal malfunction,combining with cardio-cerebral vascular disease and severe primary diseases of lung and hematopoietic system,mental diseases; ② primary immunodeficiency, secondary immunodeficiency induced by hormone and radiation therapy, hematologic disease; ③ pregnant or lactational women. Another 25 asymptomatic HIV patients were randomly selected.and regarded as the blank group. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were as the same as those in the treatment group.

METHODS:

Patients in the treatment group were treated with fuzheng paidu pian (consisting of huangqi, raw baizhu,fangfeng, baihuashe shecao, ganca o, etc.; Aolinte Pharmaceutical Factory of Henan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine; batch number 050601) by using warm boiled water, 5 tablets once (eqUal to 6.6 g raw materials) for three times a day. Three months were regarded as a course and the treatment was performed four courses in total. Patients in the blank group were not treated with any drugs.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

① Values of CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ in the treatment group before and after treatment;CD4+T lymphocyte count in the blank group after 6 months; ② Viral vector was detected by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCT) in the treatment group.

RESULTS:

All 69 patients in the treatment group and 25 patients in the blank group were involved in the final analysis. ①CD4+ value was decreased in the blank group after 6 months, and there was significant difference before and after 6 months based on α =0.05 level (P ＜ 0.05).However, CD4+ value was increased in the treatment group. ② Viral vector was randomly detected from 23 patients in the treatment group. As compared with before treatment, plasma viral vector was decreased in 9 patients at 6 months after treatment and in 12 patients at 1 year after treatment. The effective rate was 91.30%.

CONCLUSION:

Fuzheng paidu pian can improve immunological function of asymptomatic HIV patients and decrease viral vector in some cases during early interventional period.