[Zidovudine therapy in 141 patients with symptoms of HIV infection; a multicenter study].
We describe the results of treatment with zidovudine in 141 symptomatic HIV positive patients, 119 of whom had AIDS. Total mortality was 30% over a mean observation period of 45 weeks after the start of the treatment. This is much lower than the mortality among AIDS patients in the pre-zidovudine period. During the first 2 months the feeling of wellbeing and the body weight increased, but after 4 months these effects declined. Two months after start of therapy the number of new opportunistic infections declined, but it increased thereafter. Side effects were frequent: after 7 months zidovudine had to be reduced or even stopped in 43% of the patients mostly because of anaemia and/or leukopenia. After 6-7 months 45% of all patients had been given packed cells transfusions with a mean of 16 units. In general tolerability of zidovudine was better in patients with a higher number of circulating CD4-positive cells at the start. These results confirm that the effect of zidovudine in symptomatic HIV infected patients is favourable but only of limited duration.
Academisch Medisch Centrum, afd. Interne Ziekten, Amsterdam.
R
R
Perenboom
P
P
Reiss
S A
SA
Danner
J W
JW
van 't Wout
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009426:Netherlands; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015215:Zidovudine
Zidovudinetherapie bij 141 patiënten met symptomen van HIV-infectie; een multi-centra-onderzoek.