title: Stavudine plus lamivudine in advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease: a short-term pilot study.
abstract: The short-term effects of stavudine (d4T) plus lamivudine (3TC) were evaluated among 48 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients for whom zidovudine therapy had failed or who could not tolerate zidovudine. Patients were followed for 8 weeks after initiation of open-label d4T plus 3TC. Four patients discontinued therapy, because of neutropenia (1), hepatitis (1), or neuropathy (2). Reduction in virus load was -0.86 (+0.3 to -3.4) log10 copies/mL and CD4 cell increase was 30 (-100 to +290) cells/mm3. Virologic response was associated with a higher CD4 cell count, no prior exposure to d4T and 3TC, and no previous AIDS-defining illness. Virus load reduction for patients naive to 3TC and d4T was -1.47 (-0.14 to -3.37) log10 copies/mL. Short-term use of d4T plus 3TC is safe, well-tolerated, and associated with virologic and substantial immunologic benefits. Further evaluation of d4T and 3TC in combination is warranted.
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and Canadian HIV Trials Network, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rouleau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raboud
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rae
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fransen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shillington
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zala
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: O'Shaughnessy
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Montaner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018119:Stavudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019259:Lamivudine; D018119:Stavudine