Treatment of patients with chronic type B hepatitis and concurrent human immunodeficiency virus infection with a combination of interferon alpha and azidothymidine: a pilot study.
Six patients with chronic type B hepatitis and concurrent infection with the immunodeficiency virus were treated with 600 mg azidothymidine (AZT)/day and 3 X 10(6) units of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) every other day for a total of 4 months. None of the patients treated lost the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV-DNA concentrations were not significantly influenced by this treatment. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was also not affected except for a transient rise in CD 4-positive cells in 2 individuals, who had initially low CD 4-positive cells. Treatment did not influence the presence of HIV-Ag in the serum. In conclusion, a combination therapy of IFN and AZT does not seem to be beneficial at the doses given and the time involved.
Hess
G
G
I. Medical Department, University of Mainz, FRG.
Rossol
S
S
Voth
R
R
Gerken
G
G
Ramadori
G
G
Drees
N
N
Meyer zum Büschenfelde
K H
KH
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015488:HIV Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D015215:Zidovudine