Therapeutic potential of chloroquine added to zidovudine plus didanosine for HIV-1 infected children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHQ in a combination treatment with ZDV/ddI in HIV-1-infected children.


METHODS
Fifty five HIV-infected children were randomly enrolled into 3 treatment groups: (I) ZDV + ddI (n = 25); and (II) ZDV + ddI + CHQ (n = 21); and (III) ZDV + ddI experienced children were non-randomly added CHQ (n = 9). Weight, CD4+ T-lymphocytes and plasma HIV-RNA were measured at weeks 0, 8 and 24.


RESULTS
Fifteen, 16 and 8 children from Groups I, II and III were evaluated. No significant improvement in the mean Z-score for weight in groups I and II, but a decrease occurred in group III after 6 months of therapy. In group I, II and III, the respective change in the mean CD4+ T-lymphocyte percentage was +6.7, +4.0 and -0.6. The decrease in the plasma HIV-RNA log was 0.9, 1.1 and 0.7, respectively. There was a trend for more nausea/vomiting in group II/III and more opportunistic infections in group III.


CONCLUSIONS
1. The addition of chloroquine in ZDV/ddI regimen provided no significant improvement in clinical, immunological and virological parameters. 2. Chloroquine induced immunosuppression and nausea complicated its use.
Engchanil
Chulapan
C
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. cengchanil@yahoo.com
Kosalaraksa
Pope
P
Lumbiganon
Pagakrong
P
Lulitanond
Viraphong
V
Pongjunyakul
Piyaporn
P
Thuennadee
Ruengsin
R
Tungsawad
Sasithorn
S
Suwan-apichon
Olan
O
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016049:Didanosine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000962:Antimalarials; D015215:Zidovudine; D002738:Chloroquine; D016049:Didanosine