A trial with ribavirin in patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex.
A therapeutic trial is described which concerns 6 patients with AIDS and 6 patients with ARC who were submitted to a 6 month course of Ribavirin. Ribavirin was administered orally as the following doses: 3.000 mg daily the first week, 2.000 mg daily the second 2 weeks, and 1.000 mg daily up to completion of the 6 months period. No major side-effects were recorded; only a transient anemia was observed in almost all patients at the higher dose; none of them, however, required to be transfused. No improvement was shown by any of the 6 AIDS patients, neither clinically nor according to laboratory test, whereas all 6 patients with ARC experienced a sense of well-being, a clearing of their symptoms and an average weight gain of about 2.5 kg. No significant changes, though, were recorded as for their immune parameters. A remarkable drop of aminotransfereas was also observed in 4 of the patients, who were affected with chronic hepatitis as well. We conclude that additional, if any, Ribavirin trials should be carried out only in ARC patients.
Crocchiolo
P
P
Infectious Diseases Unit., Ospedale Maggiore, Lodi, Italy.
Pristera
R
R
Lazzarin
A
A
Chemotti
M
M
Froldi
M
M
Palazzini
E
E
Verani
P
P
Orecchia
A
A
Moroni
M
M
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D012254:Ribavirin