Treatment of Viral Infections
A method of treating viral infections comprises administering to a patient a regimen that is able to temporarily reduce the number or functionality of the host cells which the virus uses for its reproduction in a controlled manner. Preferably, host cells are part of the immune system.
1 . A method of treating a viral infection comprising temporarily reducing the number or functionality of host cells for the virus or eliminating the host cells that are necessary for viral reproduction.
2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising temporarily reducing the number of host cells for the virus.
3 . The method of claim 2 directed against a virus that causes immune suppression or that uses components of the immune system for their reproduction.
4 . A method of treating West Nile virus infection comprising administering to a patient a T-cell depletor that effectively kills essentially all the patient's T-cells or a T-cell modifier that prevents West Nile virus from recognizing essentially all the T-cells.
5 . A method of treating HTLV infection comprising administering to a patient a T-cell depletor that effectively kills essentially all the patient's T-cells or a T-cell modifier that prevents HTLV from recognizing essentially all the T-cells.
6 . A method of treating EBV infection comprising administering to a patient a B-cell depletor that effectively kills essentially all the patient's B-cells or a B-cell modifier that prevents EBV from recognizing essentially all the B-cells.
7 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering a monoclonal antibody directed against antigens present on the surfaces of components of the hematopoietic or immune system.
8 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering a monoclonal antibody directed against CD3.
9 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering a monoclonal antibody directed against CD4.
10 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering a monoclonal antibody directed against CD20.
11 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering a monoclonal antibody directed against CD52.
12 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering muromonab-CD3.
13 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering alemtuzumab.
14 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering anti-thymocyte globulin.
15 . The method of claim 2 , comprising T-cell suicide gene transduction (Tk-gene).
16 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering rituximab and/or 14 C-ibritumomab tiuxetan.
17 . The method of claim 7 , comprising administering different monoclonal antibodies simultaneously.
18 . The method of claim 2 , comprising administering rituximab and alemtuzumab.
19 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a host cell depletor or host cell modifier is administered immediately after detection of viral infection.
20 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a host cell depletor or host cell modifier is administered until substantially no viruses are detectable.
21 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said T-cell depletor or T-cell modifier is administered immediately after detection of HTLV infection.
22 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said T-cell depletor or T-cell modifier is administered until substantially no HTLV viruses are detectable.
23 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said T-cell depletion or T-cell modification is started immediately after detection of HTLV infection and continued for about two years or a shorter period if substantially no HTLV viruses are detectable sooner.
24 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the treatment of viral infection is followed by treatment for strengthening of the immune system.
25 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising administering of a T-cell depletor or modifier in combination with or followed by G-CSF or GM-CSF treatment.
26 . The method claim 5 , comprising administration of a T-cell depletor in combination with conventional anti-HTLV therapy given either as monotherapy or as a drug cocktail.
27 . The method of claim 5 , comprising administration of a T-cell modifier in combination with conventional anti-HTLV therapy given either as monotherapy or as a drug cocktail.