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Published on: June 23, 2019
Beneficial effect of macrophage activating agent NK-4 on Thai HIV-infected patients
Yoshinori Nakagawa1, Sunee Sirivichayakul, Praphan Phanuphak
1Scientific Research, Drug & Cosmetics Development Center, Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc., 1-2-3 Shimoishii, Okayama 700-0907, Japan. nakagawa@hayashibara.co.jp
Background:
We examined the effect of NK-4 (4,4'-[3-[2-(1-ethyl-4(1H)-quinolinylidene) ethylidene] propenylene] bis(-ethylquinolinium iodide)) on the clinical course of Thai HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral drugs.
Patients And Methods:
Twelve subjects with CD4 count < 500/mm3 were enrolled to receive 0.5 mg of NK-4 orally once daily for 8 weeks and then twice daily during the follow-up.
Results:
Most patients showed vitality, increased appetite, stable body-weight, increased CD4 counts and no serious adverse effects due to viral load. We suggest that the increased CD4 counts are due to the macrophage activating effect of NK-4. The patients with increased CD4 counts showed lower alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (alpha-NaGalase) activity than those with decreased CD4 counts.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that the macrophage activating agent NK-4, as an inexpensive and safe drug for HIV-infected patients, may play a beneficial role in the clinical treatment of HIV-infected patients.
