Long‐term follow up of HIV‐1‐infected Korean haemophiliacs, after infection from a common source of virus

Abstract

In the early 1990s, 20 haemophiliacs (HPs) were infected with a common source of HIV-1 viruses through the contaminated clotting factor IX. The aim of this study is to review 20 HPs infected with a common source of virus. The enrolled patients have been consecutively treated with Korean red ginseng (KRG), zidovudine (ZDV) or two-drug therapy and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We determined full-length pol gene over 20 years and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I with peripheral blood mononuclear cells and reviewed medical records. Eighteen HPs experienced various opportunistic infections or clinical manifestations. There were significant inverse correlations between the HLA prognostic score and the annual decrease in CD4+ T-cell counts prior to HAART (AD) (P < 0.05) and the amount of KRG and the AD (P < 0.01). From 1998, the HPs had been treated with HAART. Each of the two patients died without and with HAART regimen respectively. At present, 16 HPs have been alive with HAART. Among the 16 HPs, 12 and 4 are on HAART-plus-KRG and HAART only respectively. Eleven HPs including 2 HPs with G-to-A hypermutations had revealed resistance mutations. Ten and two HPs have shown poor adherence and incomplete viral suppres-sion on HAART respectively. Virological failure based on WHO guidelines was not observed on KRG-plus-HAART. Two HPs revealed additional resistance mutations against two classes on KRG-plus-HAART. As a nationwide study, we first report overall features on clinical course of Korean haemophiliacs. Further education on the importance of drug adherence is needed.

Genetic Analysis of the Full-Length gag Gene from the Earliest Korean Subclade B of HIV-1: An Outbreak among Korean Hemophiliacs

“…She had a duplication of “PTAPEE” in both sequences obtained in 1991 (MK548860-61). Aside from patients HJHi and HP-23 (EF370375), the clinical courses of these patients are depicted in [17,18]. Briefly, patients KJS and KMH were also LTSPs.…”

Genetic defects in the nef gene are associated with Korean Red Ginseng intake: monitoring of nef sequence polymorphisms over 20 years

“…Total RNA was extracted from 300 μL of serum samples using a QIAamp Ultra sense Viral RNA kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), as previously described [30], [31]. We compared sequence data at baseline (prior to KRG intake) and after 1–2 yr of regular KRG intake using reverse transcription-PCR analysis of data generated from serum, because the proportion of gΔ nef detectable in serum does not differ to that in PBMCs [32].…”

Ginseng, the natural effectual antiviral: Protective effects of Korean Red Ginseng against viral infection

“…When combined with zidovudine monotherapy or HAART, RGE has been shown to exert antiviral effects by maintaining CD4+ T cell counts [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] and delaying the occurrence of resistance mutation [42] , [43] , [46] in HIV-1 patients. RGE treatment alone even showed significant antiHIV effects [44] , [47] , [48] , [49] , implying that RGE intake may become an alternative form of treatment for HIV-1 patients.…”