The natural killer activity and indices of the interferon status of patients with recurrent genital herpes being treated with ridostin

: Natural killer cell activity (NK) in parallel with the interferon (IFN)-alpha and IFN-gamma production as well as with a level of IFN in the blood serum were studied in 15 patients with relapsing herpes genitalis (RHG). Rhidostin, well known as an IFN-alpha inducer, was used in a dose of 2 mg once daily for 3 days subcutaneously up to a total dose of 8 mg of the preparation. The NK cell activity and IFN-alpha production were shown to decrease in RHG more significantly in the stage of remission than during the relapse of the process. As a result of rhidostin therapy the NK cell activity was restored simultaneously with the positive clinical effect of the drug. Rhidostin was found to be an efficient modifier of the IFN system functioning in patients with RHG. The above data allow a conclusion that rhidostin exhibiting an independent antiviral and immunostimulating action might be useful in patients with a remission of RHG for prevention of its relapses.