Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection with hydroxyurea: virologic and clinical evaluation.
To assess the efficacy of the therapeutic use of inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection, 7 consecutive patients were enrolled in a clinical trial involving monotherapy with hydroxyurea for 8-19 weeks. During therapy, patients were evaluated for clinical status and immunologic, hematologic, and quantitative virologic parameters, including determinations of viremia and the number of provirus-containing cells by competitive polymerase chain reaction. In all patients, these parameters were not modified during the course of therapy. The number of CD4 cells remained generally unchanged or showed a tendency to further decline. No sign of improvement in HIV disease was detected in any patient. These observations indicate that monotherapy with hydroxyurea does not provide therapeutic benefit to HIV-1-infected patients.
Giacca
M
M
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy.
Zanussi
S
S
Comar
M
M
Simonelli
C
C
Vaccher
E
E
de Paoli
P
P
Tirelli
U
U
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012367:RNA, Viral; D006918:Hydroxyurea