Immunological parameters during treatment with ditiocarb (Imuthiol).

Objectives: To examine the effect of ditiocarb (DTC) treatment on immunological parameters of HIV infection. Immunophenotyping included CD4+ T-cell counting and the analysis of activation markers on CD8+ T cells. Anti-CD3-induced proliferation and anti-CD3-mediated cytotoxicity were monitored as indexes of T-cell function. In addition to the clinical evolution, HIV antigen and anti-p2R levels were monitored during treatment. Design: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 50 HIV-seropositive patients belonging to all clinical disease stages were randomized to treatment with DTC or placebo and followed for 4 months