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From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids,soc.motss
Subject: Re: AIDS and Drugs
Message-ID: <34221@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 13 Apr 90 20:42:59 GMT
References: <34196@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
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Reply-To: dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
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Approved: ddodell@stjhmc.fidonet.org (David Dodell)
Note:	Copyright 1990 by Daniel R. Greening.  Permission granted for
Note:	non-commercial reproduction.
Archive-number: 1960

In article <34196@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> dgreen@cs.ucla.edu (Dan R. Greening) writes:
>>Beconase is a corticosteroid, not an antihistamine.  I am not challenging
>>its effects on the immune system.
>Beconase is also an allergy medication, which was the original topic that
>you challenged.  If you were referring solely to antihistamines, you should
>have said so.

Well, you now understand my intent--I'm referring to the claim about
antihistamines.  In this case, it was a matter of ignoring the obvious,
but it could have been clearer.

>Here is the jist from a conversation with an NIH 
>research staff member, who is likely to know.
>
>There is no evidence that antihistamines down the immune system's response
>to the HIV virus.  However, there is evidence that antihistamines alter
>immune system function.  Specifically, some T cells have antihistamine
>receptors.  

I am sure that he meant "histamine receptors".  That's no surprise at all.
(It would be surprising if there weren't.)  However, let me reemphasize
the point lest someone come away from this misinformed;

It is important to exclude undue external influences on experimental
subjects which might affect the results of a HIV vaccine research
program, which is what Dan is participating in.  This decision on the
investigators' part does not address at all the clinical implications
of any effects of antihistamines on immune system function (cell
mediated immunity, excluding acute histamine-mediated reactions such as
are seen in allergies.) If there are, it would almost certainly be a
secondary phenomenon, since there have been billions of doses of
antihistamines dispensed over the past 45 years.  To echo the NIH
researcher: there is no evidence that antihistamines have any effect
whatsoever on the body's immune response to the HIV virus.  Which is not
to say that there might not be some effect uncovered in the future.
But to claim so now is unfounded and simple fearmongering.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
dyer@arktouros.mit.edu, dyer@hstbme.mit.edu