Patent ID: 8633150

Claim:
A method of treatment of an immunocompromised patient, which method comprises: (a) administering an enkephalin peptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, either alone or in conjunction with other therapies, in an initial dosage regimen, wherein each dose in the regimen is 1 to 250 μg/Kg bodyweight of the patient, said initial dosage regimen inducing an immune system response in the patient, (b) discontinuing said initial dosage regimen with no further administration of said enkephalin peptide for a period of 4 to 24 weeks, wherein the immune system response is sustained during said period in which said administration of said enkephalin peptide is discontinued, and wherein said sustained immune system response comprises an elevated amount of at least one selected from the group consisting of cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells, CD38 cells and interleukin II receptor expression in comparison to a baseline value, (c) administering booster dosages of said enkephalin peptide thereafter as necessary to maintain the sustained immune system response.