Clinical, immunological, and virological effects of sodium fusidate in patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC): an open study

• Published in: Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1988) Vol. 2; no. 1; p. 59
• Main Authors: Youle, M S, Hawkins, D A, Lawrence, A G, Tenant-Flowers, M, Shanson, D C, Gazzard, B G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1989
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - immunology; Adult; Aged; AIDS-Related Complex - drug therapy; AIDS-Related Complex - immunology; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Fusidic Acid - adverse effects; Fusidic Acid - therapeutic use; HIV Core Protein p24; Humans; Middle Aged; Retroviridae Proteins - analysis; T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0894-9255

Fusidic acid has previously been noted to prevent syncytial formation by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro. Since this drug is a cheap, usually well-tolerated substance with known toxicity profile, an open, uncontrolled trial was undertaken to evaluate its possible efficacy in HIV disease. Twenty HIV antibody positive patients (10 with AIDS and 10 with ARC) were treated with sodium fusidate 500 mg every 8 h for up to 3 months. One patient died during therapy and six ceased treatment due to adverse events. Rash, nausea, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain caused difficulties in all patients. There was no significant improvement in clinical state or T-helper cell levels, and no observed decrease in HIV p24 antigen during treatment. We conclude that in this open trial, sodium fusidate had no observable beneficial clinical, virological, or immunological effects.