Low Serum Thymic Hormone Levels in Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- 7 July 1983
- journal article
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 309 (1) , 48-49
- https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm198307073090112
Abstract
To the Editor: In a recent report by Hersh et al. (Jan. 6 issue),1 the serum levels of thymosin α1, a hormone isolated from the thymus,2 were evaluated by means of a specific radioimmunoassay3 in 10 homosexual men having the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), with severe opportunistic infections associated or not associated with Kaposi's sarcoma.4 All these patients, who were 25 to 36 years old, had lower helper: suppressor ratios and a markedly higher (threefold) level of thymosin α1 than healthy controls. This finding suggested to the authors the existence of a feedback control of this hormone . . .Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- Primary Lymphoma of the Nervous System Associated with Acquired Immune-Deficiency SyndromeNew England Journal of Medicine, 1983
- IMPROVEMENT OF CELLULAR IMMUNITY AND IgA PRODUCTION IN IMMUNODEFICIENT CHILDREN AFTER TREATMENT WITH SYNTHETIC SERUM THYMIC FACTOR (FTS)The Lancet, 1982
- Biochemical characterisation of a serum thymic factorNature, 1977
- Thymosin alpha1: isolation and sequence analysis of an immunologically active thymic polypeptide.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1977