Interleukin-4 in the treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

Purpose: To define the safety and toxicity of interleukin-4 (IL-4) when administered subcutaneously in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS); to evaluate the effect of IL-4 on immunologic and virologic parameters; and to preliminarily assess the response rate of IL-4 in AIDS-KS.

Patients And Methods: Eighteen patients with mucocutaneous, non-visceral AIDS-KS were treated with IL-4 at a dose of 1 mcg/kg subcutaneously, daily until unacceptable toxicity or for a maximum period of six months. Twelve (66%) patients had extensive mucocutaneous disease with over 25 lesions.

Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and contact lens intolerance.

To investigate whether underlying rhinoconjunctivitis contributes to contact lens intolerance, we surveyed 885 contact lens wearers by questionnaire. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis was defined as the presence of nasal symptoms and positive skin tests for inhalant allergens (definite allergy group). Subjects with nasal symptoms and positive family history of atopy or seasonality of symptoms were grouped under presumptive allergy.

Potassium canrenoate in the treatment of long-term digoxin-induced arrhythmias in conscious dogs.

The effects of potassium canrenoate on arrhythmias induced by long-term progressive digoxin toxicity were studied in eight conscious beagle dogs. Sinus bradycardia and sinoatrial block, as well as atrioventricular (A-V) conduction disturbances, were consistently alleviated by administration of potassium canrenoate. Premature supraventricular (including junctional) and ventricular depolarizations as well as ventricular tachycardias were also suppressed.