Abstract

AIDS: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced in early pregnancy, is being tested as a potential treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma lesions. Commercial preparations of hCG have long been available, but the potency is unreliable and the drug is expensive. A study of 24 patients who received hCG injections immediately below the lesions showed that most lesions healed. Side effects were mild, and all lesions studied were small. Dr. Robert C. Gallo, senior author of the study, says that this new treatment has far less toxicity and no interference with other antiretroviral therapies, but requires further study before being used widely.