title: The effect on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA levels in cerebrospinal fluid after initiation of zidovudine or didanosine.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA, neopterin, and beta2-microglobulin levels were analyzed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum before and 3-13 months after initiation of antiretroviral monotherapy in 16 HIV-1-infected persons. Twenty-one treatment periods, 13 after initiation of zidovudine and 8 after initiation of didanosine, were studied. During zidovudine treatment, CSF HIV RNA levels decreased by a mean of 1.05 log10 (-91%, P < .01), and CSF neopterin and beta2-microglobulin levels by 57% and 33%, respectively (P < .01). No reduction was seen during didanosine treatment in CSF HIV RNA (+0.13 log10, not significant), CSF neopterin, or beta2-microglobulin levels. Changes in CSF HIV RNA levels correlated with changes in CSF neopterin and beta2-microglobulin (r(s) = .81 and .83, respectively, P < .001). The decrease in HIV RNA was significantly larger in CSF than in serum following zidovudine treatment (P < .01). These data demonstrate that zidovudine is a potent reducer of central nervous system virus load, which may be important for long-term neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gisslén
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Norkrans
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Svennerholm
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hagberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D016049:Didanosine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D019562:Viral Load; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D015215:Zidovudine; D019798:Neopterin; D016049:Didanosine