Long-term treatment of diseased, FIV-seropositive field cats with azidothymidine (AZT).
The long-term effectiveness of Azidothymidine (AZT, Zidovudine) was evaluated in FIV-seropositive cats with clinical symptoms (n = 9; Group 1) compared with conventional symptomatical therapy (n = 5; Group 2). The oral administration of Azidothymidine at a dosage of 5 mg/kg BW yielded a mean peak plasma concentration of 4.59 microM one hour after application (median: 3.74 microM). Elimination half time was 1.5 h. The permanent oral application of Azidothymidine at a dosage of 5 mg/kg BW TID led to a total recovery from clinical symptoms in six of nine FIV-seropositive cats (Group 1) 4-6 weeks after the onset of therapy. One cat clinically improved with only sporadical recurrence of disease; therapy with Azidothymidine was not effective in two cats. All the FIV-seropositive cats treated symptomatically responded well to antibiotics and immunomodulators within 10-14 days (n = 5; Group 2). Recurrence of clinical symptoms was noticed in three of five patients within 2 years after therapy and one cat died. During the treatment with Azidothymidine hyperproteinemia and abnormal albumin-to-globulin ratio became normal within 6 months in four FIV positive cats (Group 1), whereas hyperproteinemia did not change in Group 2. The following adverse effects were noticed in Group 1: a transient decrease of red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin until the 4th week of application of Azidothymidine (5/8), but the haemogram was within the normal range after 3 months. In one cat with hyperglycemia the anaemia remained until the administration of Azidothymidine was terminated. Heinz (Schmauch) bodies in the erythrocytes appeared in two FIV-positive cats 2 weeks after the onset of the therapy.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002415:Cats; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015215:Zidovudine