title: Antiviral and immunological effects of escalating low doses of zidovudine in HIV-positive patients.
abstract: Twenty-eight patients with different stages of HIV infection who had not undergone antiretroviral pretreatment were treated with an escalating dose regimen of zidovudine (4 weeks 2 x 50 mg, 4 weeks 2 x 100 mg, 4 weeks 2 x 250 mg). CD4+ cell counts and p24 antigen levels were monitored every four weeks. Twenty-one patients were evaluable. p24 antigen levels showed a significant decrease after four weeks (p < 0.01, Sign test, Wilcoxon matched pairs test) that was sustained until week 12 without a further significant decrease. CD4+ cell counts increased significantly within the first four weeks (p < 0.01, Sign test, Wilcoxon matched pairs test). This increase was sustained until week 12 but no further significant increase was noted. Mean corpuscular erythrocyte volume values increased significantly after week 4 and continued to rise until week 12. These results demonstrate antiretroviral activity of a very low zidovudine dose, however low doses should not be used for treatment unless the clinical efficacy is shown to be equivalent to that of standard doses.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Kernklinik und Poliklinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Stellbrink
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plettenberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stoehr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laufs
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fenske
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Greten
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D015215:Zidovudine