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document
Pentoxifylline therapy in HIV seropositive subjects with elevated TNF . Tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-alpha ) is thought to induce cachexia in subjects infected with human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) , and it has been suggested that HIV-seropositive patients would benefit from treatment with pentoxifylline , a known suppressor of TNF-alpha production . The purpose of the present study was to examine how pentoxifylline at a dose of 800 mg thrice daily would influence the cellular immune system in HIV-seropositive persons with elevated TNF-alpha . Six HIV-seropositive subjects with elevated amounts of TNF-alpha in plasma at least at two occasions were included in an open , controlled , randomized , cross-over study consisting of a 6 week treatment period and a 6 week control period . Blood samples were collected before and at the end of each period . Pentoxifylline treatment did not influence the concentration of plasma-TNF-alpha , subpopulations of blood mononuclear cells , the proliferative responses nor the natural killer ( NK ) , and lymphokine activated killer ( LAK ) cell activities . Furthermore , pentoxifylline treatment did not influence the weight , temperature , well being , or tiredness of the subjects . However , the patients frequently reported gastrointestinal side effects . In vitro , however , pentoxifylline at suprapharmacological concentrations inhibited the blood mononuclear cell ( BMNC ) proliferative responses , NK , and LAK cell activities .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Pentoxifylline
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Intervention_Pharmacological
pentoxifylline
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Intervention_Pharmacological
pentoxifylline at a dose of 800 mg thrice daily
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Intervention_Control
6 week control period
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Outcome_Physical
cellular immune system
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Outcome_Physical
concentration of plasma-TNF-alpha , subpopulations of blood mononuclear cells , the proliferative responses nor the natural killer ( NK ) , and lymphokine activated killer ( LAK ) cell activities .
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Outcome_Physical
weight , temperature , well being , or tiredness of the subjects .
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
gastrointestinal side effects .
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Outcome_Other
blood mononuclear cell ( BMNC ) proliferative responses
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Outcome_Physical
NK
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Outcome_Physical
LAK cell activities
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Participant_Condition
HIV seropositive
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Participant_Condition
HIV-seropositive
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Participant_Sample-size
Six
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Participant_Condition
HIV-seropositive