RHIV A Pilot Study Refractory or Intolerant to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)

"Photopheresis (or extracorporeal photoimmunetherapy \[ECP\]) is a process developed by THERAKOS, Inc., a Johnson and Johnson Company. During the process of ECP, whole blood is drawn from the patient over several cycles, centrifuged and separated into the components of plasma, white cells (or buffy coat), and red blood cells. A portion of the white cells and the plasma are saved in a separate compartment. The remaining plasma and red blood cells are immediately returned to the patient.~The saved buffy coat (white blood cells) and plasma are inoculated with the photosensitizing agent UVADEX. Photoactivation begins when the suspension is exposed to a prescribed amount of ultraviolet-A light. After photoactivation is complete, the treated suspension is returned to the patient."