Could iodine be effective in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS-associated opportunistic infections?

摘要

FiguresFigure 1Approximately 4?μg of radiolabelled iodine suspended in water was given by oral gavage and the concentration in plasma determined. In lymph-cannulated animals, iodine was introduced via a cannula placed directly into the duodenum. Data are expressed as a percentage of the dose given. CM?=?lymph chylomicron.Retroviruses share similarities in structure, genomic organization and replication and are associated with immunodeficiencies. AIDS describes the most advanced stages of HIV infection and is characterized by a progressive loss of the CD4+ helper subset of the T-lymphocytes resulting in immune suppression, constitutional diseases and opportunistic infections. The feline immunodeficiency retrovirus (FIV) has a clinical pathology not unlike that of HIV/AIDS, including AIDS-related complexes and chronic immunodeficiency.