Effects of thymosin α1 on prognosis of very elderly patients with severe hosipital acquired pneumonia

Objective To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of thymosin α1 on patients with severe pneumonia in the very elderly(≥80 years old).Methods Forty-two very elderly cases were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.Both groups were given conventional treatment(anti-infectives,nutritional support,and symptomatic treatment).Meanwhile treatment group was additionally treated with thymosin α1 for 14 days.In two groups,peripheral blood samples were collected before and after treatment,and the percents of CD+3,CD+4,CD+8,the ratio of CD+4/CD+8,the level of CRP in peripheral blood,and the score of APACHEⅡwere observed.Results After 14-day treatment of thymosin α1,the level of CRP and the score of APACHEⅡ decreased more significantly,and the percents of CD+3,CD+4,CD+8 and the ratio of CD+4/CD+8 incresed more significantly in treatment group than those in the control group.Conclusions The immune function is reduced in the very elderly,and thymosin α1 can improve ther immune function and enhance resistance to infection,and can improve those patients' outcomes.