Successful zidovudine therapy for HIV-related severe thrombocytopenia. Report of a sustained remission.
Five patients, two homosexuals and three drug abusers, with HIV-related severe thrombocytopenia, four of whom had also bleeding episodes, experienced a full remission of thrombocytopenia after 1,200 mg/day zidovudine treatment. None of the patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex. Platelet counts began an upward trend at the end of the 3rd week and reached values higher than 140 x 10(9)/l towards the end of the 8th week of treatment. Patient's platelets remained stable after more than 4 months of active treatment. This is the first report of zidovudine-induced long-term remission of HIV-associated severe thrombocytopenia.
Peña
J M
JM
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Arnalich
F
F
Barbado
F J
FJ
Dominguez
A
A
Mostaza
J
J
Valencia
M E
ME
Vazquez
J J
JJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012074:Remission Induction; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015215:Zidovudine