Intralymphatic interleukin-2 treatment of a hemophiliac AIDS patient with defective interleukin-2 production

To improve immune functions in an interleukin-2 (IL-2) deficient hemophiliac AIDS patient suffering from severePneumocystis carinii pneumonia, treatment with IL-2 was started in addition to standard antimicrobioal therapy. Highly purified IL-2 was administered subcutaneously and then repeatedly intralymphatically in a manner similar to pedal lymphography. No toxicity was observed. The patient temporarily improved clinically as well as with regard to immunological functions. Particularly the in vitro response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) could partly be restored, and skin tests revealed improved response to recall antigens. These findings indicate that IL-2 can be administered safely and effectively by the intralymphatic route and may — in addition to antibiotics — be of value in AIDS patients with severe opportunistic infections.