AEGiS-CATIE: ANTI-HIV AGENTS: Hydroxyurea -- one year later

ANTI-HIV AGENTS: Hydroxyurea -- one year later

TreatmentUpdate 70, Volume 8, No 6; September, 1996
Sean Hosein

Doctors in Italy recruited 60 HIV-infected subjects who had more than 250 CD4+ cells. Twenty subjects received ddI 400 mg/day and 40 received the same dose of ddI as well as hydroxyurea 1 g/day. Doctors monitored the subjects for up to 6 months.

Results -- combination

Once subjects started to receive both drugs the amount of virus in their blood fell by over 90% compared to their pre-study level. Of the 40 subjects on combination therapy, 18 remained in the study until the 6th month. Production of virus remained low and CD4+ cell counts remained stable.

Result -- ddi alone

Use of ddI also caused a dramatic decrease in production of HIV during the first 2 weeks of the study, but after that it began to rise. By the 6th month of the study the average amount of HIV in the blood of these subjects had risen to 50% of its pre-study level. In 25% of subjects on ddI alone, levels of HIV in the blood returned to pre-study levels by the 6th month of the study.

Results -- 7 subjects

The researchers also did experiments on 7 other subjects, 3 of whom had AIDS. All subjects saw the amount of HIV in their blood fall to 1/10th its pre-study level. The researchers did not report any further information.

REFERENCE:

1. Lori F, Foli A, Viale P, et al. Sustained absence of viral rebound consistently observed in patients treated with combination of hydroxyurea and didanosine. Th.B.942, programme supplement.

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Copyright © 1996 - TreatmentUpdate. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Editor, The Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange, 555 Richmond St. West, Suite 505, Box 1104, Toronto, ON, M5V 3B1 • Phone: 416-203-7122 • Toll Free: 1-800-263-1638 • Fax: 416-203-8284 http://www.catie.ca

This information is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
©1996. AEGIS.