Spontaneous recovery of hemoglobin and neutrophil levels in Japanese patients on a long-term Combivir containing regimen.
OBJECTIVE
In order to evaluate long-term toxicity of Combivir, we retrospectively reviewed clinical records of HIV-1 infected cases under treatment with Combivir-containing regimen and we analyzed the clinical data compared to other NRTIs-containing regimens.


METHODS
A total of 55 patients who were on Combivir and 39 on a control regimen were examined.


RESULTS
After starting treatment with Combivir-containing regimens viral load and CD4(+) T-cell count improved as well as the control group. Rates of adverse events in Combivir group and ZDV (400 mg/day) + 3TC group were 50.9% (28/55) and 60% (12/20), respectively. Some of these Japanese patients who started Combivir regimen as a first-line HAART (primary Combivir group) showed some decrease in hemoglobin levels or neutrophil counts within 6 months. However, a significant recovery of these indices of hematological toxicities occurred in patients who continued the regimen for 18-24 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the safety of 600 mg of ZDV is similar to 400 mg/day of ZDV and the existence of mechanisms that compensate for anemia and for the neutropenia associated with long-term use of Combivir.
Matsushita
Shuzo
S
Division of Clinical Retrovirology and Infectious Diseases, Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan. shuzo@kaiju.medic.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Yoshimura
Kazuhisa
K
Kimura
Tetsuya
T
Kamihira
Asako
A
Takano
Misao
M
Eto
Kenichiro
K
Shirasaka
Takuma
T
Mitsuya
Hiroaki
H
Oka
Shinichi
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006454:Hemoglobins; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; C109078:lamivudine, zidovudine drug combination; D019259:Lamivudine; D015215:Zidovudine