Author:
Rakityanskaya Irina A.,Ryabova T. S,Todzhibaev U. A,Kalashnikova A. A
Abstract
Introduction. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes recurrent infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms. Today poisons of insects and animals were shown to be rich sources of antimicrobial substances (peptides) and contain a wide range of active biological compounds. Antimicrobial peptides play an important role in the immune response of the host’s innate immunity to pathogenic microorganisms. Based on antimicrobial peptides in Russia, an antiviral drug allokin-alpha has been developed. The active ingredient of the drug is cytokine-like peptide alloferon. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of allokin-alpha therapy on the amount of EBV DNA in saliva samples and clinical complaints in patients with chronic Epstein-Barr viral infection (EBI). Material and methods. 59 chronic EBI patients (45 women and 14 men; mean age 32.52 ± 1.75 years) were examined. Patients were subjected to quantitative determination of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in saliva samples by the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with real-time hybridization-fluorescence detection. The analytical sensitivity of the test system is 400 copies/ml. The patients were divided into two groups: 26 patients who received allokin-alpha therapy (9 injections subcutaneously with 1.0 mg every other day) were included in the 1st group; the 2nd group included 33 patients who received Valtrex (500 mg 2 times/day, orally) for 2 months. Results. After treatment with allocin-alpha, negative results of PCR were obtained in 59.67% of patients. After two months of Valtrex therapy, negative PCR results were obtained in only 27.27% of patients. The correlation analysis revealed a significant effect of the initial number of copies of EBV DNA on the severity of clinical complaints in the general group of EBV patients. Discussion. Allokin-alpha improves the recognition of virus-infected cells and helps to suppress viral replication. Conclusion. Allokin-alpha therapy can be recommended for the treatment of chronic EBV infection in a dose of 1 mg subcutaneously every other day with a course dose of at least 9 injections.