Second International Congress Drug Therapy in HIV Infection 18-22 November 1994 Glasgow, UK

LONGTERM AZT THERAPY DOES NOT ALTER LYMPHOCYTE FUNCTION IN ASYMPTOMATIC HIV INFECTION

Marc CI Lipman, EF Bowen, G Janossy, MA Johnson, M Bofill
Royal Free Hospital & School of Medicine, London, UK.

Int Cong Drug Therapy HIV 1994 Nov 18-22;2:Abstract No. 2.4
AIDS 1994, Vol. 8 (Suppl. 4);S2

Recent studies of zidovudine (AZT) have highlighted its relative lack of effect in asymptomatic HIV infection. Concerns have been raised about its potential as a lymphotoxic agent when used longterm. We have investigated the effects of AZT on lymphocyte function in a placebo controlled trial in asymptomatic HIV infection (the Concorde trial). 57 HIV infected individuals (30 on 1000mg AZT/day, 27 on placebo) had serial measurements of CD4 absolute counts and activation-associated lymphocyte death (AALD) [1]. A Cytoron absolute counter was used to measure CD4 & CD8 blast transformation after 3 days with PHA and IL-2 supplementation. The mean duration of follow-up for AZT and placebo were 19 months and 23 months respectively (p = ns). Mean CD4 counts at study entry were 420 cells/μl and 470 cells/μl (p = ns). Mean lymphocyte performance over the study period Lt SEM) is given in the following table.

In conclusion we find no evidence to suggest that longterm AZT has a deleterious effect on lymphocyte function.

[1]. Janossy G et al., AIDS. 1993 May;7(5):613-24.

Presenting author: Marc CI Lipman

1994-11-18
2.4

Originally published in AIDS Volume 8, Supplement 4 and hosted with permission of the publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 250 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RD, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7981 0700 Fax: +44 (0) 7981 0701

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