Pekova, L.; Angelova, S.; Parusheva, P.; Bureva, B.; Mitev, M.

MODULATING AND STIMULATING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM THERAPY IN PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS - ADVANTAGES AND POSSIBILITIES - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE WITH SHARING OF OWN EXPERIENCE

2024

Trakia Journal of Sciences: Series Biomedical Sciences, Vol. 22, No 3, pp 217-279

Тракийски университет - Стара Загора

1313-3551 [issn]

Article

eng

immunomodulatory drugs; HIV/AIDS; Pn. jirovecii pneumonia

The immune system in people living with HIV can range from normal to severely dysfunctional, depending on the timing of ART initiation and adherence. The use of immunostimulating and immunomodulating drugs in HIV/AIDS still hides many unknowns. Various types of immunotherapy, including monoclonal antibodies, interferon, cytokines, immunomodulatory drugs, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and most importantly ART adherence, have shown efficacy in HIV-associated opportunistic infections and neoplasms. The beneficial effect of immunotherapy in autoimmune, inflammatory and oncological diseases in the course of HIV/AIDS is based on reducing the pathological damage of the immune system and modifying the disease processes by interfering with cellular metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis, as well as the production of antagonist molecules of inflammation. While most known immunomodulators reduce pathological disorders of the immune system, newer "checkpoint inhibitors" have been developed to improve immune surveillance in oncological diseases. Some cancer immunotherapies can affect HIV latency and HIV-specific immunity. Knowing the benefits of immunotherapy in people with HIV/AIDS and opportunistic diseases will improve their clinical care, providing a unique opportunity to gain insight into the mechanisms of HIV eradication.We present two cases of AIDS and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia wherewe administered immunomodulators concurrently with ART and specific etiologic therapy. One patient died.