Stanford University
researchers have also discovered that, when used
in combination with CD4 cell counts, glutathione
levels can provide a more accurate means of tracking
the progression of HIV disease.
Dr. Leonard A. Herzenberg
and colleagues in Stanford, California, report the
results of in vitro studies in which they evaluated
blood samples from 204 HIV-positive patients. They
found subjects with glutathione deficiency had a
markedly decreased survival 2-3 years after baseline
data collectionwhen compared with subjects without
glutathione deficiency. Patients with CD4 T cell
counts below 200 per microliter also had lower glutathione
levels compared with subjects in earlier stages
of HIV infection.
According to Dr. Herzenberg,
this study shows for the first time that people
with HIV who have lower glutathione levels have
a much lower probability of surviving over the course
of three years than do people with normal glutathione
levels. He has presented preliminary reports of
these findings at recent meetings.
Dr. Herzenberg also
found that glutathione levels were replenished following
oral administration of the glutathione product N-acetylcysteine,
which suggests a potential intervention to relieve
this impairment. If these findings can be replicated,
Dr. Herzenberg writes, "...they will provide the
foundation for the use of N-acetylcysteine as an
inexpensive, nontoxic adjunct therapy for HIV/AIDS,
potentially valuable even in remote locations where
only minimal medical supervision is available."
Dr. Herzenberg's group
believes that HIV-positive subjects should avoid
excessive exposure to UV irradiation, alcohol and
drugs, such as acetaminophen, which are known to
deplete glutathione levels. And, based on these
findings, Dr. Herzenberg and others have asked the
FDA to require drug companies to include labeling
on products known to deplete glutathione because
of the potential hazard to HIV-positive patient
