Effects of Initiation of 3′-Azido,3′-Deoxythymidine (Zidovudine) Treatment at Different Times after Infection of Rhesus Monkeys with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 168; no. 4; pp. 825 - 835
• Main Authors: Martin, Louis N., Murphey-Corb, Michael, Soike, Kenneth F., Davison-Fairburn, Billie, Baskin, Gary B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.10.1993; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Animals; Antigens, CD - blood; Antigens, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood; CD4 Antigens - blood; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Hematocrit; HIV; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Infections; Injections, Subcutaneous; Inoculation; Integrin beta1; Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Lymphocytes; Macaca mulatta; Major Articles; Male; Medical sciences; Monkeys; Retroviridae; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - blood; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - physiopathology; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus; Time Factors; Viruses; Zidovudine - administration & dosage; Zidovudine - therapeutic use; Immunopathology; Prognosis; Treatment efficiency; Monkey; Retroviridae; AIDS; Early stage; Immune deficiency; Infection; Virus; Vertebrata; Chemotherapy; Experimental disease; Mammalia; Treatment; Viral disease; Animal; Primates; Lentivirinae; Antiviral; Evolution; Simian immunodeficiency virus; Pyrimidine nucleoside
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/168.4.825

The effects of initiating treatment with 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (zidovudine) at different times after inoculation of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) were investigated in rhesus monkeys. Zidovudine treatments of 100 mg/kg/day (25 mg/kg, subcutaneously every 6 h) were initiated 1, 8, 24, or 72 h after intravenous inoculation of 10 ID50 ofSIV. Treatments continued for 28 days, and results were compared with those of saline-treated controls. Serum infectious virus titers 14 days after inoculation (AI) significantly decreased after treatment initiation 1, 8, or 24 h AI. Titers were correlated with the time treatment was initiated. Treatments initiated 1–72 h AI prevented the establishment of persistent SIV antigenemia; greater effects were observed with earlier initiation of treatment. Treatments initiated 1–8 h AI resulted in decreased levels of viral antigenemia 14 days AI and delayed decreases in CD4+CD29+ blood lymphocytes. Earlier treatment initiation resulted in delayed recurrence of antigenemia, with a tendency for longer survival. Early initiation of treatment may be important for limiting initial viral replication and dissemination in cases of known exposure.