G. Chrysos, P. Gargalanos, E. Giannelos-Bourboulis, A. Provis, J. Stefanou, I. Zintetas, J. Kosmidis.
Infectious Diseases Unit and 1st Dept Medicine, Athens General Hospital, Greece.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the antiretroviral therapy (ZDV alone or in combination with ddI or ddC) on the CD4(+) lymphocyte count of HIV(+) individuals.

Eighty-seven patients were studied for 12 months, 20 of them receiving ZDV monotherapy, 31 ZDV+ddI and 36 ZDV+ddC. All HIV(+) individuals under ZDV+ddI / ddC with CD4(+) >200/μl were ZDV naive. Individuals with CD4(+) <200/μl under ZDV+ddI / ddC received ZDV or ddI monotherapy prior initiation of any combination. CD4(+) count evaluated at 0, 3, 6, 12 mo. was as follows.

The differences between the two combinations were not statistically significant. The decrease of CD4(+)/μl in HIV(+) individuals under ZDV monotherapy versus time was statistically significant (p<0.05). The respective changes versus time in patients under both combinations did not differ (p NS). AZT+ddC at 6, 12 mo. in individuals with CD4(+) >200/μl was found superior than ZDV (p<0.01).

It is concluded that ZDV+ddI / or ddC is superior to ZDV as well as that both combinations are equally effective in HIV infection independent of the initial CD4(+) cell count. Both combinations remain effective despite ZDV lack of naivety in HIV(+) individuals with CD4(+) <200/μl.