AEGiS-CATIE: ANTI-HIV AGENTS: AZT with and without indinavir

ANTI-HIV AGENTS: AZT with and without indinavir

TreatmentUpdate 71, Volume 8, No 7; October 1996
Sean Hosein

Study details

Doctors in Brazil, Canada and the US have enrolled 490 HIV-infected volunteers for this study. No subject was supposed to have used AZT or protease inhibitors before entering this study. Subjects had between 50 and 500 CD4+ cells and received either AZT 600 mg/day, or indinavir 800 mg/8 hours or a combination of both drugs.

Results -- CD4+ cell counts

At the 6th month of the study, researchers found that subjects in the following groups had increased numbers of CD4+ cells compared to their pre-study levels:

* AZT - 28 cells

* indinavir - 91 cells

* combination - 85 cells

The larger increase in the in CD4+ cell counts in the indinavir group compared to the AZT group was [statistically] significant. This means that use of indinavir was responsible for the greatest increase - not luck or chance.

Results -- amount of virus

When technicians measured changes in the amount of HIV in the blood they found the following changes:

* AZT group -- a slight increase

* indinavir -- a decrease in viral load to 1/8 times the pre-study level

* combination -- a decrease to about 1 /11th the pre-study level

The greater decrease in viral load in subjects receiving indinavir (alone or in combination) compared to that seen in the subjects receiving AZT was [statistically] significant, that is; not likely due to chance alone.

Summary

Use of indinavir alone or together with AZT caused an increase of at least 80 CD4+ cells and reduced production of HIV to 1/11th of its pre-study level.

REFERENCES:

1. Leavitt R, Massari F, Nessly M, et al . Antiviral activity of indinavir plus AZT compared to indinavir or AZT alone in antiretroviral naive patients. Abstract I109.

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Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeard in 1996. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

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.