hempling@quorum.com (David B. Hempling) (03/29/91)
A friend of mine is HIV+ and on AZT. His t-cell count hovers between 300 and 400. His doctor is suggesting that he be vaccinated for Measles. The vaccine the docter wishes to use contains live Measles virus. Could someone please present the risks involved in giving such a vaccine to an HIV+ person? Are there other, less risky Measles vaccines available? Thank you, dave hempling@quorum.com
marco@ozdaltx.UUCP (Steve Giammarco) (03/30/91)
In article <1991Mar28.192813.5998@cs.ucla.edu>, hempling@quorum.com (David B. Hempling) writes: > A friend of mine is HIV+ and on AZT. His t-cell count > hovers between 300 and 400. His doctor is suggesting that he > be vaccinated for Measles. The vaccine the docter wishes to use > contains live Measles virus. > > Could someone please present the risks involved in giving such a > vaccine to an HIV+ person? Are there other, less risky Measles > vaccines available? > Hoo-boy. I hope this makes sense: After HIV-infection occurs, the virus probably exists in two states, (1) inside a cell (T cell, macrophage, etc), and (2) unattached and roaming the peripheral bloodstream. When the immune system is activated ("a cold", allergy, another virus (HIV, hepatitis, measles)), certain activities take place that *sometimes* signal unattached HIV to find cells to infect, and, infected cells begin manufacturing more virus which normally "buds" out from the infected cell, ready to infect other cells. All this activity may avalanche into a permanent reduction in the number of T-cells (not a good idea). If your friend hasn't had Measles yet, his body isn't real good at fighting it off *if* he should become exposed (easier than you might think). It has to mount a considerable attack against the virus which may produce this undesirable dip in T-cells. Vaccination will *also* stimulate the immune system, but in a milder, and more controlled way. The premise is: vaccine lets the body figure out how to manufacture sufficient antibody without being under "real" viral attack. If one should become exposed to measles thereafter, the body "remembers" the blueprint for creating more antibody very quickly. It is the associated stimulation of the immune system that may trigger the slippery-slope toward lowered T-cells. The vaccine's effects on T-cells will *probably* be temporary in nature, and your friend will regain most, if not all of them. A hit with the REAL measles virus also causes general constitutional problems which weakens other body defenses temporarily. The overall effect of a REAL infection may be much more devastating. This may appear as damned if you do, damned if you don't in your friends eyes. If I were under the same set of conditions, generally healthy, and in good spirits, I'd get the vaccine. Hope your friend doesn't smoke, drink, do recreational drugs. These weaken the immune system too. If he decides to get the vaccine, he might try to eliminate at least the alcohol and drugs until the effect of the vaccine takes hold. Hope this helps. Sorry it was so long :) -- Steve Giammarco 5330 Peterson Ln #1211 Dallas TX 75240 214.788.0976 AIDS Resource Center 4012 Cedar Springs Rd Dallas TX 75219 214.521.5124 X.400(C:USA A:Western Union N:Steve Giammarco D:ELN-62847823) Easylink:62847823 {mic,void,egsner}!ozdaltx!marco || {uunet,smu,ames}!sulaco!ozdaltx!marco