Enhancement of erythrocytic adenosine deaminase following treatment of AIDS-related complex/AIDS patients with zidovudine.
The levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) were determined in the erythrocytes of 10 patients with sexually transmitted HIV-1 infection [five cases with AIDS-related complex (ARC) and five with AIDS] before and after therapy with zidovudine (azidothymidine; AZT). A linear increase in ADA activity was observed during the second and third months of zidovudine treatment, with a final increase of about threefold after 3 months of drug administration. The concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was significantly lower in the erythrocytes of the same group of patients with respect to healthy controls, and a further decrease was noted after 3 months of zidovudine treatment. The results obtained indicate that treatment of ARC/AIDS subjects with zidovudine induces metabolic changes which could be responsible for the development of anaemia, an adverse effect frequently associated with zidovudine therapy.
Casoli
C
C
Istituto di Patologia Medica, Università di Parma, Italy.
Magnani
G
G
Schianchi
C
C
Barchi
E
E
Bertazzoni
U
U
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015215:Zidovudine; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase