A controlled trial of zidovudine in primary human immunodeficiency virus infection
Article Abstract:
Zidovudine treatment of primary HIV infection may reduce the incidence of opportunistic infections and increase the CD4 cell count. For six months, 39 HIV patients received 500 milligrams/day of zidovudine and 38 patients received a placebo. All of the patients had acute retroviral syndrome with symptoms including rash, fever, and headache. During an average follow-up of 15 months, one of the zidovudine patients and seven of the placebo patients developed opportunistic infections, including hairy leukoplakia, candidiasis, and herpes zoster. Thus the drug appeared to slow the progression of HIV infection. During the treatment period, the CD4 count increased by an average of 8.9 cells/cubic milliliter/month in the zidovudine group and decreased by an average of 12.0 cells/cubic ml/month in the placebo group. Side effects of the drugs included nausea and decreased levels of neutrophilic blood cells.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1995
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Therapeutic strategies for HIV infection - time to think hard
Article Abstract:
Longer studies are needed to determine if some HIV patients can benefit from maintenance therapy after intensive drug therapy has lowered blood levels of HIV to undetectable levels. During maintenance therapy, patients take lower doses or not as many drugs as they did during the intensive phase. This is important in HIV therapy because intensive drug therapy involves many different drugs and many pills a day. However, three clinical trials have shown that not all HIV patients benefit from maintenance therapy after intensive therapy. Even those that do benefit might relapse eventually.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1998
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Transforming laboratory test results to improve clinical outcome predictions in HIV patients
Article Abstract:
Mathematical manipulation of laboratory test results in patients with HIV may improve their prognostic accuracy. Researchers evaluated the ability of test results to predict the clinical outcome for 394 patients infected with HIV. Expressing viral load and CD8+ white blood cell counts logarithmically improved the predictive power of the tests. Exponential adjustments of beta 2-microglobulin and CD4+ cell count improved the prognostic value. The best predictor of clinical progression of disease and death was the ratio of viral copies per CD4+ cell.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1077-9450
Year: 1998
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