title: Combined zidovudine and interferon-alpha 2a therapy in children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
abstract: A study was carried out in five children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome to assess the effect of combined zidovudine/interferon-alpha 2a therapy with that of zidovudine given alone on immunological profiles and plasma zidovudine concentrations. Immunoglobulins A, G and M, total and absolute CD4 lymphocyte counts, and p24 antigen concentrations did not differ significantly when children were treated with 300 mg/m2 zidovudine given orally once every 12 h, or with 150 mg/m2 zidovudine plus 1.5 or 3 MIU interferon-alpha 2a given intramuscularly three times weekly. Peak plasma zidovudine concentrations were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower when combined treatment with 150 mg/m2 zidovudine/1.5 MIU interferon-alpha 2a was administered compared with 300 mg/m2 zidovudine alone, or combined 150 mg/m2 zidovudine/3 MIU interferon-alpha 2a. The results suggest that combination zidovudine/interferon-alpha 2a therapy may be more efficacious than zidovudine alone and that the normal zidovudine dose may be reduced if interferon-alpha 2a is given in addition, thus reducing the side-effects associated with zidovudine.
authors.affiliation: Fifth Paediatric Department, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Zuccotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biasucci
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015215:Zidovudine