AEGiS-13IAC: Punarvine: immunoadjuvant therapy in HIV-1 cases from Mumbai: a pilot study.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Punarvine: immunoadjuvant therapy in HIV-1 cases from Mumbai: a pilot study.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:23 (abstract no.. LbOr27)

Vergara PT, Joshi Sr, Shah PS, Sultan M, Bhalala US, Womack C
Univ. of California, Davis, Monte Sereno 95030. Fax: 91-22-644-3572, E-mail: ptvergara@ucdavis.edu.

BACKGROUND: Alternative immunological therapies are reshaping case management of HIV/AIDS. Punarvine is an herbal (ayurvedic) medicine with endogenous IL-2 and multiple other immune-modulating components. This present study highlights the use of this natural source in a small anti-retroviral (ARV) -naive HIV cohort from Mumbai.

METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 68 consecutive ARV-naive HIV positive patients were given Punarvine, 6 tablets/day, from January 1999 to June 2000 with nutritional modulation. This adult cohort consisted of 40 males and 28 females with a mean CD4 count of 368. All patients were asymptomatic and free of opportunistic infections at initiation of therapy. All patients were followed clinically using the K score, weight (WT), hemoglobin (Hgb), and immunologically using CD4 count to evaluate the efficacy of Punarvine, every 3 months.

RESULTS: After 18 months of daily treatment with Punarvine, this cohort demonstrated an increase in the following parameters: mean K score: 60 to 90 (50%); mean WT: 42 Kg to 54.5 Kg (29.8%); mean Hgb: 9.6g/dl to 13.9g/dl (44.8%); the mean CD4 count: 368 to 621 (76.9%). All patients remained asymptomatic and free of any adverse effects to therapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Punarvine has excellent and significant clinical, nutritional, hematological, and most importantly immunological effects on ARV-naive HIV positive patients without adverse effects. Use of this natural, cost-effective immune therapy may benefit developing and industrialized countries alike after proper evaluation.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV-1, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, HIV Infections, Pilot Projects, Anti-HIV Agents, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Adjuvants, Immunologic, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, HIV, HIV Seropositivity, Antigens, CD4, HIV Protease Inhibitors, HIV Seronegativity, Cohort Studies, Prospective Studies, Human, Female, Male, Adult, therapy, immunology, drug therapy, AIDS
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