Combination therapy with zidovudine and dideoxycytidine in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. A phase I/II study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and immunologic and antiviral effects of combination therapy with zidovudine and dideoxycytidine (ddC) in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection.


METHODS
A phase I/II open-label, dose-ranging study.


METHODS
Two AIDS Clinical Trials Group units.


METHODS
Patients (56) with advanced HIV disease.


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to one of three paired regimens of zidovudine and ddC. We evaluated six dosing regimens, each involving oral administration of the study drugs at 8-hour intervals.


METHODS
Pharmacokinetics, toxicity, CD4 counts, p24 antigenemia and clinical end points.


RESULTS
The median follow-up period was 40.6 weeks (range, 0.3 to 70 weeks). Neither drug affected the pharmacokinetic profile of the other. Episodes of serious hematologic toxicity were infrequent, occurring in only 17.9% of patients, and did not differ among the regimens (P = 0.15). Severe sensory peripheral neuropathy occurred in two patients (one patient each in regimens 1 and 4). One patient receiving regimen 4 died. The mean maximal increase in CD4 counts exceeded 109 cells/mm3, and 69% of patients receiving combinations containing 300 or 600 mg of zidovudine daily had an increase in CD4 counts of 50 cells/mm3 or greater. Regimens containing 600 mg of zidovudine daily (regimens 2 and 5) were also more likely to result in persistent increases in CD4 counts above pretreatment values than were the two lowest dose regimens (P = 0.003). The decline in CD4 counts was more rapid, and the suppression of the p24 antigenemia was less rapid and less sustained in patients receiving the lowest zidovudine dose alone (regimen 6). The addition of ddC to regimen 6 (regimen 3) resulted in a slower decline in the CD4 counts (P = 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Combination therapy with zidovudine and ddC at the doses tested was well tolerated and did not result in toxicity. A daily oral dose of 150 mg of zidovudine appeared to produce a suboptimal effect on p24 antigenemia and CD4 counts. Combination therapy with ddC and higher doses of zidovudine produced greater and more persistent effects in patients with advanced HIV infection compared with other study regimens and with the results of previous trials of zidovudine monotherapy.
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92161.
T C
TC
Meng
M A
MA
Fischl
A M
AM
Boota
S A
SA
Spector
D
D
Bennett
Y
Y
Bassiakos
S H
SH
Lai
B
B
Wright
D D
DD
Richman
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000187:drug effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016047:Zalcitabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D015215:Zidovudine; D016047:Zalcitabine