A Pilot Study of Low-Dose Zidovudine in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 323; no. 15; pp. 1015 - 1021
• Main Authors: Collier, Ann C, Bozzette, Samuel, Coombs, Robert W, Causey, Dennis M, Schoenfeld, David A, Spector, Stephen A, Pettinelli, Carla B, Davies, Glenn, Richman, Douglas D, Leedom, John M, Kidd, Pamela, Corey, Lawrence
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 11.10.1990
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acyclovir; Acyclovir - administration & dosage; Adult; AIDS; AIDS-Related Complex - drug therapy; Antigenemia; Antiretroviral drugs; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 antigen; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell number; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug dosages; Drug Evaluation; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fatigue; Female; Gene Products, gag - analysis; HIV; HIV Core Protein p24; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Laboratories; Leukocyte Count; Male; Medical sciences; Pilot Projects; Plasma; Random Allocation; Toxicity; Viral Core Proteins - analysis; Viremia; Zidovudine; Zidovudine - administration & dosage; Zidovudine - adverse effects; Zidovudine - therapeutic use; Infection; Virus; Human; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Viral disease; Retroviridae; Lentivirinae; AIDS; Human immunodeficiency virus; Posology
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199010113231502

ZIDOVUDINE prolongs survival in persons with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and delays the progression of HIV infection. 1 2 3 The initially recommended doses of 1200 to 1500 mg a day are associated with hematologic toxicity that often requires the interruption of therapy. 2 , 4 5 6 With prolonged use, opportunistic infections and death eventually occur, 7 and regimens are therefore needed that enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of zidovudine. Combination therapy with lower doses of antiviral drugs is one possible approach. Acyclovir, a nucleoside analogue with little or no intrinsic activity against HIV, has been reported to potentiate zidovudine's anti-HIV effect in vitro. . . .