A controlled trial of treatment of acquired immunodeficiency in severe measles with thymic humoral factor.

Abstract

A randomized controlled trial of treatment with thymic humoral factor (THF) in 20 children with severe complicated acute measles infection, resulted in objective benefit as evidenced by improvement in the ESR and a fall in C-reactive protein, fewer complications and a reduced incidence of secondary herpes infection. An increased ratio of helper to suppressor T cells (OKT4/OKT8 ratio) and a greater lymphocyte transformation response to phytohaemagglutin was seen in those children receiving THF. We conclude that THF treatment helps to prevent the development of complications particularly secondary viral infections possibly by enhancing cell-mediated immune responses.

• Authors: D W Beatty, Z T Handzel, M Pecht, C R Ryder, J Hughes, K McCabe, N Trainin
• Journal: Clinical and experimental immunology (Clin Exp Immunol) Vol. 56 Issue 3 Pg. 479-85 (Jun 1984) ISSN: 0009-9104 [Print] England
• PMID: 6378450 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Thymus Hormones
• thymic humoral factor

Topics

• Child, Preschool
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Female
• Herpes Simplex (prevention & control)
• Humans
• Immunity, Cellular
• Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes (etiology, therapy)
• Infant
• Male
• Measles (complications, immunology, therapy)
• Thymus Hormones (therapeutic use)