title: Azidothymidine associated with bone marrow failure in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
abstract: Four patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and a history of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia developed severe pancytopenia (hemoglobin, less than 85 g/L; granulocytes, less than or equal to 0.5 X 10(9)/L; platelets, less than or equal to 30 X 10(9)/L) 12 to 17 weeks after the initiation of azidothymidine (AZT) therapy. The bone marrow was markedly hypocellular in three patients and moderately hypocellular in the fourth. Partial bone marrow recovery was documented within 4 to 5 weeks in three patients, but no marrow recovery has yet occurred in one patient during the more than 6 months since AZT treatment was discontinued. Azidothymidine should be used cautiously, with close monitoring of blood values.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013936:Thymidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015215:Zidovudine
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015215:Zidovudine; D013936:Thymidine