Indomethacin and T-cell subsets in human immunodeficiency virus disease--a pilot study

Indomethacin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with multiple immunomodulating properties. Since NSAID's are used frequently for symptom control and, without proven efficacy, for immunopotentiation by people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, we investigated the effects of indomethacin on T-cell lymphocyte subsets in HIV-seropositive subjects. Ten asymptomatic HIV-seropositive men participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study to determine effects of indomethacin on their CD4 ('helper') and CD8 ('suppressor') cell counts. Each subject received four weeks of drug and four weeks of placebo (or vice versa) separated by a two-week washout period. No statistically significant changes were seen in absolute CD4 or CD8 cell counts, although a modest decrease (16%) in CD8 counts occurred. These findings do not support the colloquial use of NSAID's as 'boosters' of CD4 cell counts.