title: Didanosine, a new antiretroviral drug. A review.
abstract: In this article the literature about didanosine, an antiretroviral drug, is reviewed. The mechanism of action, biochemical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical results of phase-I trials are discussed. Serious adverse effects such as pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy have occurred in these trials. An antiretroviral effect was observed in terms of an increase in CD4+ lymphocytes and a decrease in p24 antigen levels in HIV-infected individuals. Didanosine seems to be a promising drug against HIV infection, but knowledge about its clinical efficacy is scanty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Franssen
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Meenhorst
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Koks
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beijnen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016049:Didanosine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016049:Didanosine