Abstract
Background: Despite availability of antiretroviral therapy (ARV), side -effects and drug resistance had been major concern thus the need to evaluate efficacy of A -Zam traditional medicine used for HIV infections
Patients and method: Nine HIV patients that consented and met the criteria were investigated, 3 sought herbal medicines as complementary while 6 as alternative therapy to HAART (4 patients discontinued HAART due to side-effects). Each HIV patient self- administered 27g of A Zam three times daily and monitored daily for possible side effects and effectiveness of the therapy, periodic CD4 count and viral load were measured.
Result: Viral load in HIV patients on complementary therapy remained undetectable but CD4 significantly (α0. 05) increased from 493±403 to 845±280 cells/µL after therapy. The viral load significantly decreased from 1,693±1691 to 55±55x103copies/ml and CD4 count increased from 564±334 to 639±280 cells/µL) in the 2 HIV patients using alternative therapy. There w as significant gradual reduction in viral load from 758±584 to 24±34x10 3copies/ml while CD4 count increased from 572±185 to 679±243 cells/µL at 180 t h day in all the 4 HIV patients that discontinued HAART but commenced A-Zam herbal medicine as alternative therapy
Conclusion: The study concluded that A-Zam is a potential effective antiviral and immune - stimulatory agent and could be used when there is HIV resistance or serious side -effects to
HAART.
Keywords: Herbal medicine, Antiviral, Immune- stimulatory, HIV patients, HIV resistance
Abstrait
Contexte: Malgré la disponibilité de la thérapie antirétrovirale (ARV), les effets secondaires et la résistance auxmédicaments ont été une préoccupation majeure, d’où la nécessité d’évaluer l’efficacité de la médecine traditionnelle A-Zam utilisée pour les infections à VIH.
Patients et méthode: Neuf patients VIH qui ont consenti et ont répondu aux critères ont été étudiés, 3 ont recherché des médicaments à base de plantes comme complémentaires tandis que 6 comme thérapie alternative à l’HAART (4 patients ont interrompu l’HAART en raison d’effets secondaires). Chaque patient VIH s’est auto-administré 27 g de A Zam trois fois par jour et surveillé quotidiennement pour les effets secondaires possibles et l’efficacité de la thérapie, le nombre de CD4 périodique et la charge virale ont été mesurés.
Résultat: La charge virale chez les patients VIH sous thérapie complémentaire est restée indétectable mais CD4 a significativement (α0, 05) augmenté de 493 ± 403 à 845 ± 280 cellules / µL après la thérapie. La charge virale a diminué de manière significative de 1693 ± 1691 à 55 ± 55x103 copies / ml et le taux de CD4 a augmenté de 564 ± 334 à 639 ± 280 cellules / µL) chez les 2 patients VIH utilisant une thérapie alternative. Il y a eu une réduction graduelle significative de la charge virale de 758 ± 584 à 24 ± 34x103 copies / ml tandis que le nombre de CD4 a augmenté de 572 ± 185 à 679 ± 243 cellules / µL au 180ème jour chez les 4 patients VIH qui ont arrêté le traitement HAART mais ont commencé la phytothérapie A-Zam comme thérapie alternative.
Conclusion: L’étude a conclu qu’A-Zam est un potentiel agent efficace antiviral et immunostimulant, et pourrait être utilisé en cas de résistance au VIH ou d’effets secondaires graves à l’HAART.
Mots clés: Phytothérapie, Antiviral, Immunostimulant, Patients VIH, Résistance au VIH
Correspondence: Dr. A.A.Onifade, Department of Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: abdufattahkunle@gmail.com
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