title: Serum thymidine kinase--a marker of bone marrow toxicity during treatment with zidovudine.
abstract: Serum thymidine kinase (S-TK) was measured weekly in 16 randomly selected patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC; Centers for Disease Control group IV A or group IV C-2) who participated in a controlled study of the efficacy of zidovudine therapy. S-TK increased significantly (P less than 0.01) in the zidovudine group, whereas it remained stable in the placebo (control) group. On the basis of this observation, the value of S-TK measurements as a predictor of bone marrow toxicity during zidovudine therapy was investigated in 42 patients with AIDS or ARC who received zidovudine as part of their usual treatment. There was a significant association between S-TK, haemoglobin and neutrophil counts measured after the first 4 weeks of therapy and the risk of developing bone marrow toxicity during the following 6 months. Combined, measurements of S-TK and neutrophil counts seem to be well suited for the identification of patients who have a high probability for developing bone marrow toxicity during zidovudine treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ingeberg
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Teglbjaerg
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000032:analysis; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000097:blood*; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D015215:Zidovudine; D013937:Thymidine Kinase