ANTIVIRAL DRUGS D4T & ddI

ANTIVIRAL DRUGS D4T & ddI

AIDS Treatment Update, No. 44, August 1996
Edward King

Researchers from Houston, Texas, presented further evidence that the combination of d4T (stavudine) and ddI is effective and well-tolerated. Follow-up of 75 patients with a mean CD4 count of 340 showed that the average fall in viral load after eight weeks was 1.3 logs; just over half the participants experienced a 1 log and 16% had a 2 log decrease. 26 patients have now received the combination for one year, and their viral load was still 1.1 to 1.8 log below baseline (Th.B.293).

Concerns were expressed about the safety of this combination following reports of severe peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) and necrosis (tissue death) by one San Francisco doctor who has been prescribing the combination for over a year. However, the Houston study found that side-effects were very limited, with only one case of peripheral neuropathy and a handful of reports of abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

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