Therapeutic approaches to patients with AIDS

The immune systems of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are characterized by a profound defect in the number and function of helper/inducer T-lymphocytes, particularly at the level of soluble antigen recognition. Due to this selective yet profound defect in the immune system, these patients are prone to recurrent severe opportunistic infections and Kaposi's sarcoma. While therapies exist for some of these complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, no effective therapies exist for the underlying immune defect of this syndrome. Reviewed here are some of our recent attempts at immune reconstitution in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, using either whole scale immune reconstitution through the use of lymphocyte transfers and bone marrow transplantation or enhancement of the remaining immune systems with the T-cell-derived lymphokines interleukin-2 or immune gamma-interferon. In addition, recent advances in the therapy of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and disseminated cytomegalovirus disease are discussed.