Del Bono V, Mazzarello G, Anselmo M, Canessa A, Terragna A; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1990 Jun 20-23; 6: 198 (abstract no. S.B.450).

Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the compliance with long-term zidovudine treatment and the efficacy of therapy in a cohort of intravenous drug users (IVDUs). METHODS: Eighty-six HIV-infected IVDUs were treated with oral zidovudine for 3-24 months in an outpatient setting. A retrospective, historical control group of 127 IVDUs was selected according to disease staging. RESULTS: Cumulative probability of voluntary zidovudine discontinuation was 9% at 3 months, 29% at 6 months, and 38% at 9 months. No more drop outs occurred after 9 months of treatment. Monitoring of mean corpuscolar volume of red blood cells well correlated with time of treatment. Patients receiving zidovudine showed a cumulative probability of survival at 12 months of 88+/-9.8%, as compared with 50+/-8.6% in untreated patients (P less than 0.001). Less opportunistic infections occurred among zidovudine treated subjects than among untreated patients (4 vs. 15, respectively, after 12 months; P less than 0.001). Marrow toxicity was the most relevant toxic effect observed. CONCLUSION: Acceptable rates of compliance with long-term zidovudine treatment are attainable in IVDUs. Survival data and incidence of opportunistic infections show that HIV-infected IVDUs can benefit from continued zidovudine treatment.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• AIDS Vaccines
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Long-Term Care
• Patient Compliance
• Substance Abuse, Intravenous
• Zidovudine
• drug therapy
• therapy

Other ID:

• 30045090

UI: 102196263

From Meeting Abstracts