Section: 
General questions of otolaryngology
General questions of otolaryngologyPossibilities of cytokine therapy in treatment of comorbid diseases associated with persistent herpesvirus infection
I. A. Gorbacheva (1), Yu. A. Sycheva (2), O. S. Donskaya (3), Yu. E. Osintseva (4), E. S. Ryazantseva (5)
(1), (2), (3), (4) Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, 197022, Russian Federation, (5) Mechnikov North-West State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, 191015, Russian Federation
UDK: УДК 616.21+616.31-06-02:616.523:577.27
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18692/1810-4800-2025-5-8-15
ABSTRACT
Abstract. The search for common links in the etiopathogenesis of comorbid pathology in modern patients is an important problem of scientific and practical medicine and opens up opportunities to improve the effectiveness of their treatment. A study of the nosological structure of combined diseases of the ENT organs and oral cavity showed that herpes infection, especially genotypes 4, 5, 6, 7, parasitizing in immunocytes, is involved in their frequent exacerbations and protracted courses. Chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases in the ENT organs and oral cavity associated with the chronic persistence of herpes viruses form the status of chronically and frequently ill people with severe immunological disorders and cytokine imbalance. The study presents positive experience in the use of polycytokine therapy (PCKT). Objective. To evaluate the state of the interferon system and some interleukins (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10) in chronically and frequently ill patients with multiple chronic foci of infection in the ENT organs and oral cavity against the background of chronic persistence of herpes genotypes 4, 5, 6 to determine indications for polycytokine therapy in the complex treatment of polymorbid patients. Materials and methods. The study included 45 patients who were frequently and long-term ill with respiratory diseases (more than 4 cases per year), with serologically proven chronic persistence of herpes infection genotypes 4, 5, 6 against the background of comorbid chronic focal infection in the ENT organs and oral cavity. All patients were assessed for immunological status and blood interferon profile before and after a 6-month course of treatment with PCKT (recombinant alpha- and gamma-interferons, recombinant interleukin). Results. In the observed patients, a significant decrease in the levels of natural killers (NK cells) and natural killers T (NKT cells) as well as activated T- and B-lymphocytes was revealed against the background of a tendency to T-cell lymphocytosis. It was revealed that a decrease in interleukin 2 and hyperproduction of 6 and 10 contribute to immunological deficiency. A significant decrease in the resources of the interferon system was found in all patients (p < 0.01). Polycytokine therapy with recombinant preparations of alpha and gamma interferons with recombinant interleukins led to the restoration of the parameters of the interferon system and was accompanied by an improvement in the immunological parameters of the blood as well as the clinical condition of the patients. Conclusion. Thus, the positive experience of polycytokine therapy by restoring the resources of the interferon system indicates the importance of immunotherapy in comorbid patients with ENT and oral cavity diseases against the background of persistent herpes infection for improving their condition and enhancing their quality of life.
Publication date:
20.10.2025
Keywords:
comorbidity of ENT organs and oral cavity, cytokines, interleukins, interferons, polycytokine therapy For citation:
Gorbacheva I. A., Sycheva Yu. A., Donskaya O. S., Osintseva Ya. E., Ryazantseva E. S. Possibilities of cytokine therapy in treatment of comorbid diseases associated with persistent herpesvirus infection. Russian Otorhinolaryngology. 2025;24(5):8-15. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18692/1810-4800-2025-5-8-15