title: AZT-induced mitochondrial myopathy.
abstract: Histochemical, electron microscopy and biochemical studies were performed on muscle biopsy specimens from 11 AIDS patients treated with zidovudine. A peculiar association of structural abnormalities and mitochondrial dysfunction was found. Focal cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency was evident in muscle sections from 9 patients, 8 of whom had received long-term treatment while one had been treated for 1 month only. Electron microscopy showed changes in number, size and structure of mitochondria. Biochemical studies proved partial COX and succinate cytochrome c reductase (SCR) deficiency in 4 patients; one patient had only reduced SCR activity. Our data confirm that AZT therapy can cause toxic myopathy with mitochondrial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Neurologia, Università di Verona.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomelleri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tonin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spadaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tilia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orrico
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barelli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salviati
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morocutti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017240:Mitochondrial Myopathies / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology; D009132:Muscles / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013384:Succinate Cytochrome c Oxidoreductase / Q000378:metabolism; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015215:Zidovudine; D013384:Succinate Cytochrome c Oxidoreductase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV