Epidermodysplasia verruciformis: response to therapy with dialyzable leukocyte extract (transfer factor) derived from household contacts.

Abstract

Dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLE) have been used to treat a variety of antigen selective, and broad spectrum immunodeficiency diseases with sometimes encouraging results. We describe here the clinical and laboratory responses to DLE therapy of 2 patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), a chronic cutaneous infection with a variety of human papilloma viruses. One patient with longstanding (30 yr) disease and no improvement to previous therapy showed gradual yet definite resolution of extensive verrucae planae, plaque, tinea-versicolor-like, and tumor lesions scattered over his entire integument. Cessation of DLE therapy for a short time resulted in recurrence of partially regressed lesions and also in the development of new tumors in this patient. The second patient, a grandson of the first patient, with minimal disease showed no progression of the disease during DLE prophylaxis. A third subject (brother of patient number 2) received no DLE and served as a control. All 3 subjects demonstrated severely depressed levels of suppressor T cells, a defect in cell-mediated immunity that has not been hitherto reported in patients with EV. Finally, evidence is presented for a possible X-linked recessive mode of inheritance for susceptibility to EV.

• Authors: D B Vasily, O F Miller, H H Fudenberg, J M Goust, G B Wilson
• Journal: Journal of clinical & laboratory immunology (J Clin Lab Immunol) Vol. 14 Issue 1 Pg. 49-57 (May 1984) ISSN: 0141-2760 [Print] Scotland
• PMID: 6086930 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Transfer Factor

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Child
• Humans
• Male
• Papillomaviridae
• Skin Diseases, Infectious (genetics, immunology, therapy)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (immunology)
• Transfer Factor (therapeutic use)
• Tumor Virus Infections (genetics, immunology, therapy)