title: Foscarnet decreases human immunodeficiency virus RNA.
abstract: Foscarnet inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in vitro and decreases p24 antigenemia in patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. To evaluate the effect of foscarnet on HIV replication, HIV RNA was quantitated in 17 patients before and during foscarnet therapy. Fifteen patients had CMV retinitis, 1 had CMV encephalitis, and 1 had intractable zoster. A decrease in HIV RNA was observed in 16 of 17 patients. Before the introduction of foscarnet, mean HIV RNA was 5.82 +/- 0.24 log RNA/mL and, after a median of 13 days of therapy, mean HIV RNA was 5.30 +/- 0.27 log RNA/mL (P < .001). Among patients with detectable p24 antigen at baseline, a significant decrease was observed (P = .017). This decrease in HIV RNA demonstrates that foscarnet is a potent antiretroviral drug.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hirschel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furrer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Von Overbeck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olmari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yerly
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017245:Foscarnet