Zidovudine-induced restoration of cell-mediated immunity to mycobacteria in immunodeficient HIV-infected patients.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Zidovudine-induced restoration of cell-mediated immunity to mycobacteria in immunodeficient HIV-infected patients.

AIDS. 1992 Nov;6(11):1293-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/93112301
French MA; Mallal SA; Dawkins RL; Department of Clinical Immunology, Royal Perth Hospital, Western; Australia.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe a localized form of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) infection occurring concurrently with the restoration of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to mycobacterial antigens after commencement of zidovudine therapy in immunodeficient HIV-infected patients. PATIENTS: The first 108 Western Australian patients with a CD4+ T-cell count of < 200 x 10(6)/l and/or symptomatic disease to be given zidovudine (ZDV), of whom 72 had adequate DTH data. METHODS: DTH responses to seven antigens were measured by the 'Multitest' method before and on at least two occasions during the 6 months after commencing ZDV. All patients were reviewed at regular intervals and clinical events recorded. RESULTS: Of the 64 patients who were anergic to tuberculin before commencing ZDV, 27 (42%) developed a DTH response to tuberculin after ZDV. Four of the nine patients with a 'Multitest' tuberculin response of > or = 8 mm and one patient who developed a positive Mantoux test to M. avium purified protein derivative developed an illness characterized by localized MAI infection, lymphadenopathy and/or severe fevers after 1-2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The development of localized MAI infection and/or fevers shortly after commencing ZDV in immunodeficient HIV-infected patients may reflect restoration of cellular immunity to mycobacterial antigens in some patients rather than early failure of therapy or hypersensitivity to ZDV.

Keywords: Antigens, Bacterial AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/COMPLICATIONS/IMMUNOLOGY Human Hypersensitivity, Delayed HIV Infections/COMPLICATIONS/*DRUG THERAPY/*IMMUNOLOGY Immunity, Cellular/*DRUG EFFECTS Mycobacterium/*IMMUNOLOGY Mycobacterium avium Complex/IMMUNOLOGY Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection/COMPLICATIONS/ ETIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY Tuberculin/IMMUNOLOGY Zidovudine/ADVERSE EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE JOURNAL ARTICLE
930430
M9340802

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