Cytomegalovirus viremia in HIV-infected patients treated with zidovudine.
We followed the course of cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia in 65 patients treated with zidovudine for symptomatic HIV-1 infection. Blood samples were tested for the presence of CMV before initiation of treatment and every 3 months thereafter. 13 patients (20%) showed a positive CMV viremia at initiation of treatment. After 3 months of therapy, only 2 patients (3%) remained viremic. However, the frequency of CMV viremia increased from the 6th month of treatment and 28 (43%) of our patients showed a persistence of, or conversion to, positive viremia during the course of treatment. CMV viremia was associated with a decline in the patients' clinical state in 79% of the cases. In contrast, among the 37 patients, who remained negative for CMV viremia, 73% did not show a progression of the HIV-associated disease. The results suggest that CMV viremia could be considered as a useful marker for HIV-associated disease and its progression as well as for the efficacy of therapy.
Segondy
M
M
Department of Virology, University Hospital of Montpellier, France.
Atoui
N
N
Reynes
J
J
Vendrell
J P
JP
Ducos
J
J
Blanc
P
P
Mandin
J
J
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015215:Zidovudine