title: Experience with adriamycin, bleomycin, vincristine (ABV) palliative chemotherapy in advanced AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.
abstract: After administration of Adriamycin, bleomycin, vincristine (ABV) as palliative chemotherapy in advanced AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS.KS) patients with low Karnosfsky performance scores, the authors attempted to estimate the overall biological cost/benefit relating to the disease. The authors analyzed data from 20 consecutive AIDS patients with advanced Kaposi's sarcoma presenting skin and visceral involvement treated with ABV every 3 weeks. An increased rate of infections, HIV and ABV-related side effects was observed. The performance amelioration (about 30%) was not significantly correlated with AIDS.KS clinical remission. CD4 count at baseline (p < 0.05), ABV therapy duration (p < 0.001), the achieved AIDS.KS clinical amelioration score (p < 0.01) and the improved Karnofsky score (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of life expectancy which was unrelated to the rate of side effects. The authors conclude that ABV palliative chemotherapy can assist in protracting life expectancy and improving the Karnofsky score.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Dermatology, Andreas Sygros Hospital, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Paparizos
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kyriakis
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mileounis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pfandl-Polydorou
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Stavrianeas
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Vareltzidis
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Stratigos
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin