Treatment of Mildly Symptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection
Authors: John D. Hamilton
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1990)

Letters15 October 1990Treatment of Mildly Symptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) InfectionJohn D. Hamilton, MD, Michael S. Simberkoff, MD, Pamela Hartigan, PhDJohn D. Hamilton, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Michael S. Simberkoff, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Pamela Hartigan, PhDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-113-8-635 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the Editors: The recent article by Fischl and colleagues (1) concludes with the sentence, "Based on the findings in this study, patients with mildly symptomatic HIV infection who have less than 500 CD4 T lymphocytes/mm3 now have an opportunity to significantly delay the rate of disease progression and, thus, to prolong their disease-free survival." We do not believe that the data presented support that conclusion.Several studies have shown that the risk for developing the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining opportunistic infections increases dramatically after the CD4 concentration falls below 200/mm3(2-4). Fischl and colleagues (1) provide the baseline CD4...References1. FischlRichmanHansen MDN. The safety and efficacy of zidovudine (AZT) in the treatment of subjects with mildly symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1990;112:727-37. LinkGoogle Scholar2. PolkFoxBrookmeyer BRR. Predictors of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome developing in a cohort of seropositive homosexual men. N Engl J Med. 1987;316:61-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. MasurOgnibeneYarchoan HFR. CD4 counts as predictors of opportunistic pneumonias in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Ann Intern Med. 1989;111:223-31. LinkGoogle Scholar4. VolberdingLagakosKoch PSM. Zidovudine in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection: a controlled trial in persons with fewer than 500 CD4-positive cells per cubic millimeter. N Engl J Med. 1990;322:941-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. FischlRichmanGrieco MDM. The efficacy of azidothymidine (AZT) in the treatment of patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. N Engl J Med. 1987;317:185-91. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. FischlRichmanGrieco MDM. The efficacy of azidothymidine (AZT) in the treatment of patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. N Engl J Med. 1987;317:185-91. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. FischlRichmanCausey MDD. Prolonged zidovudine therapy in patients with AIDS and advanced AIDS-related complex. AZT Collaborative Working Group. JAMA. 1989;262:2405-10. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Fischl M. The safety and efficacy of two doses of zidovudine in the treatment of patients with AIDS. Fourth International Conference on AIDS, June 12-16, 1988, Stockholm, Sweden. Google Scholar4. Creagh-KirkDoiAndrews TPE. Survival experience among patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome receiving zidovudine: follow-up of patients in a compassionate plea program. JAMA. 1988;260:3009-15. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. RichmanGrimesLagakos DJS. Effect of stage of disease and drug dose of zidovudine susceptibilities of isolates of human immunodeficiency virus. J Acq Immun Def Synd. 1990;3:743-6. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Durham, NC 27705 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 15 October 1990Volume 113, Issue 8Page: 635-636KeywordsAIDSAttentionDisease free survivalFallsHIVHIV infectionsOpportunistic infections Issue Published: 15 October 1990 PDF DownloadLoading ...