Effects of glycyrrhizin (SNMC: stronger Neo-Minophagen C) in hemophilia patients with HIV infection.

Glycyrrhizin (GL) not only has an inhibitory effect on HIV replication but also exhibits interferon-inducing and natural killer (NK)-enhancing effects and improves liver dysfunction. Thus, large doses of GL (200-800 mg/day) were intravenously administered for more than 8 weeks to 9 hemophilia A patients with HIV infection (asymptomatic carrier, AC). Lymphocyte count increased in all 9 cases. OKT4 OKT8 ratio was elevated in 6 out of the 9 cases and OKT4-positive lymphocytes increased in 8 out of the 9 cases; 66.7% and 88.9% improvement, respectively. Changes in NK cell activity and mitogenic responsiveness to PHA, Con A and PWM were not significant. Liver dysfunction, noted in 4 cases, clearly improved. Serum electrolytes, protein, lipids, and renal function were within normal levels and no serious side-effects were observed during treatment. On the other hand, in 3 cases of hemophilia without HIV infection, the number of OKT4 lymphocytes was not significantly altered during treatment. From these results, large dose administration of GL to HIV-positive hemophilia patients (AC) seems to be effective in preventing development of AC into AIDS by raising the number of decreased OKT4 lymphocytes and improving liver dysfunction.