Research Database -
International Updates

HIV/Aids

Issue 92

ULLMAN, Homeopathic Educational Services, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA, mail@homeopathic.com, reviews (43 references) clinical trials on the homeopathic treatments of people with HIV or AIDS.
Background: Homeopathy uses nanopharmacologic and ultramolecular doses of medicines to strengthen a person’s immune system rather than directly attacking the infectious agent. This paper reviews the literature for placebo-controlled trials of homeopathic medicines for the treatment of people with AIDS and HIV infection, considers a different theoretical and methodological approach to treating people with HIV.
Methods: Medline and nonindexed homeopathic journals were searched for placebo-controlled trials of homeopathic medicines in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Results: 5 controlled clinical trials were identified. A double-blinded placebo controlled study on 50 asymptomatic HIV positive subjects and 50 subjects with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy provided individualized single-remedy homeopathic treatment. Two randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials were found studying a total of 77 people with AIDS who used only natural therapies over a period of 8 to 16 weeks. Two other studies were conducted over a 2.5 year period with 27 subjects in an open-label format. The first study found no statistically significant improvement in CD4 T-lymphocytes but did find statistically significant pretest and posttest results in subjects with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy in CD4 (p = 0.008) and CD8 (p = 0.04) counts. The second group of studies found specific physical, immunological, neurological, metabolic and quality of life benefits, including improvements in lymphocyte counts and functions and reduction in HIV viral load.
Conclusions: Homeopathy may play a useful role as an adjunctive and/or alternative therapy, especially in people with drug-resistant HIV infection taking structured treatment interruptions.
Ullman D. Controlled clinical trials evaluating the homeopathic treatment of people with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 9 (1): 133-141, Feb 2003.

Issue 90

ANTONI, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA, mantoni@miami.edu, has reviewed (85 references) stress management and psychoneuroimmunology in HIV infection.
Abstract: Stress-management techniques such as relaxation training, cognitive restructuring, coping-skills training and interpersonal-skills training, may reduce anxiety, depression, and social isolation in HIV infected individuals by lowering physical tension and increasing a sense of self-efficacy and control. A psychoneuroimmunological model is proposed whereby these psychological changes are accompanied by an increased ability to regulate neuroendocrine function. This in turn may lead to a partial normalization of immune functions such a lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxicity, and thus provide more efficient surveillance of latent viruses that may contribute to increased HIV replication. Such a normalization of stress-related immune functions is thought to minimize increases in viral load and expression of clinical symptoms.
From this model follows a research strategy for testing the effects of stress management interventions by assessing psychological changes in parallel with hormonal, immunological, viral. and clinical parameters over the course of time.
Antoni MH. Stress management and psychoneuroimmunology in HIV infection. CNS Spectrum 8 (1): 40-51, Jan 2003.

CRUESS and colleagues, Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 3815 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, dcruess@psycho.upenn.edu, have reviewed (92 references) the impact of depression on immune function and AIDS progression in HIV infected individuals.
Abstract: HIV infection is viewed as a chronic illness that confronts patients with a number of emotional challenges and disease-related issues. Over the past 20 years, there has been increasing evidence that depression is commonly observed in HIV infected individuals. There is also mounting evidence that depression has adverse effects on specific elements of the immune system and thus impacts on immune function and quality of life of HIV positive individuals.
Cruess DG, Petitto JM, Leserman J, Douglas SD, Gettes DR, Ten Have TR, Evans DL. Depression and HIV infection: impact on immune function and disease progression. CNS Spectrums 8 (1): 52-58, Jan 2003.

LESERMAN, Department of Psychiatry, CB #7160, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA, jles@med.unc.edu, reviews (67 references) the effects of stressful life events, coping skills, and cortisol on HIV infection.
Abstract: There is substantial evidence to show that stressful life events as well as passive coping strategies may have a detrimental effect on HIV disease progression. The limited research on the effectiveness of interventions to promote more active coping skills is reviewed. The evidence is examined for the mediating and direct effects of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, on disease progression.
Leserman J. The effects of stressful life events, coping, and cortisol on HIV infection. CNS Spectrums 8 (1): 25-30, Jan 2003.