Effects of glycyrrhizin (SNMC: Stronger Neo-Minophagen C) in hemophilia patients with HIV-1 infection.

Forty-two hemophiliacs with HIV infection were treated with high-dose glycyrrhizin, Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC). The dose was 100-200 ml of SNMC in 21 patients and 400-800 ml in the other 21. The patients were divided into an asymptomatic carrier (AC) group and AIDS related-complex (ARC)/AIDS group. SNMC was administered intravenously daily for the first 3 weeks, and every second day for the following 8 weeks to the 42 HIV-infected hemophilia patients, in accordance with the protocol proposed by the Japanese National Research Committee. The CD4/CD8 ratio and CD4 positive lymphocyte counts did not change during the treatment period. However, significant improvement was noted in some cases. A slight increase in mitogenic responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin, Concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen was noted in most patients of both groups, especially significant improvement was seen in the AC group administered over 400 ml of SNMC. Furthermore, complete improvement was noted in liver dysfunction, which has been thought to be one of the major problems for hemophiliacs treated with blood products. Thus, prophylactic administration of high-dose SNMC to HIV positive hemophiliacs who have impaired immunological ability and liver dysfunction was considered to be effective in preventing the development from AC/ARC to AIDS.