Dendritic cell-based vaccines in treating recurrent herpes labialis: Results of pilot clinical study

Figures & data

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of patients with Herpes labialis.

Number	14
Age at disease diagnosis	28.5 (24–34)
Gender (М/F)	4/10
Disease duration	15(10–19)
Frequency of recurrences before treatment^a, the number of episodes	10.5 (10–12)
Recurrence-free intervalsbefore treatment^a, days	34.5 (30–36)
Recurrence duration before treatment^a, days	11.2 (7–14)

Note: the data represented as median and interquartile range (in parentheses).

^a within 30 d prior to trial enrollment.

Table 2. Vaccine-related reactions.

Type of reaction	Number (%)
Local
Reddness	9/14 (64.3%)
Swelling	8/14 (57.1%)
Morbidness	11/14 (78.6%)
Systemic
Weakness	3/14 (21.2%)
Chills	8/14 (57.1%)
Subfebrile fever	7/14 (50%)
Febrile temperature	0/14 (0%)
Headache	3/14 (21.4%)
Discomfort	4/14 (28.6%)

Figure 1. Frequency of recurrences (A) and the duration of interrecurrent period (B) in the patients with herpes labialis during DC-vaccination. The data are presented as median and interquartile range. The numbers of recurrences per month (A) and duration of interrecurrent period (B) were analyzed in 14 patients before (I), at the end of vaccination (II) and during the first 6 months of the follow-up period (III). *p_U < 0.05 and **p_U < 0.01 - the significance of differences with baseline values (U - nonparametric Mann-Whitney test).

Table 3. Long-term outcomes of DC vaccination estimated by interviewing the patients with herpes labialis followed for over a year.

Questions	Patient number (n, %), who gave positive answer
1. Do you notice any specific health improvement after therapy
– decrease in recurrences	7 (87.5%)
– shortening of recurrence duration	8 (100%)
– diminishing of affected areas	7 (87.5%)
2. Do you notice any general health improvement after treatment	6 (75%)
3. Did you experience any worsening in your condition (increase in recurrent infection, aggravation of chronic diseases)	0 (0%)
4. Do you have no regrets for taking part in the trial	8 (100%)

Figure 2. Antigen and mitogen reactivity of patients' MNCs (n = 14) during DC-vaccination. The data are presented as stimulation indexes (IS; median and interquartile range) of HSV1gD (A) and ConA (B) on the proliferative response of peripheral blood MNC from 14 patients with herpes labialis assessed before treatment (I), at the end of vaccination (II) and during the first 6 months of the follow-up period (III). *pU < 0.05 - the significance of differences with baseline values (U - nonparametric Mann-Whitney test).

Figure 3. Proliferative response of patients' MNCs (n = 7) to mitogen or antigen stimulation during DC vaccination and 48-month follow-up period. The proliferation of patients' MNC to mitogen (ConA; the left vertical axis) or viral antigen (HSV1gD; the right vertical axis) was analyzed in 7 patients with herpes labialis before DC therapy (I), at the end of vaccination (II), 6 months (III) and 48 months (IV) after vaccination. Data are shown as M ± SE (cpm). *p_W < 0.05 - the significance of differences with baseline values (W - non-parametric Wilcoxon test for paired samples).