Zidovudine for Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection: Who, When, and How?
Authors: John Ruedy, Martin Schechter, Julio S. G. Montaner
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1990)

Editorials15 May 1990Zidovudine for Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection: Who, When, and How?John Ruedy, MD, Martin Schechter, MD, Julio S. G. Montaner, MDJohn Ruedy, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Martin Schechter, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Julio S. G. Montaner, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-112-10-721 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptSince it was originally described in 1981, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been a complex therapeutic challenge. In 1983, the discovery of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) as the causative agent of AIDS opened the door for the rational development of specific therapeutic agents. To date, only one such agent, zidovudine (also known as azidothymidine, or AZT) has been definitively shown to alter the usually rapidly fatal course of AIDS (1, 2). Results of a number of recently concluded trials, some of them still unpublished, in patients at earlier stages of HIV infection necessitate a reassessment of our...References1. 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. Creagh-KirkDoiAndrews TPE. Survival experience among patients with AIDS receiving zidovudine. Follow-up of patients in a compassionate plea program. JAMA. 1988;260:3009-15. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. YarchoanThomasGrafman RRJ. Long-term administration of 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine to patients with AIDS-related neurological disease. Ann Neurol. 1988;23(Suppl):S82-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. 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Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid pharmacokinetics of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine: a novel pyrimidine analog with potential application for the treatment of patients with AIDS and related diseases. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1987;41:407-12. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. AvramisMarksonGomperts VWE. Biochemical pharmacology of AZT in human T-lymphoblastoid cells (CEM). Proceedings from the Fifth International Conference on AIDS. 1989;C-593:657. Google Scholar19. GelmonMontanerFanning KJM. Nature, time course and dose dependence of zidovudine-related side effects: results from the Multicenter Canadian Azidothymidine Trial. AIDS. 1989;3:555-61. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. 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Renaler, PhDCompliance with Zidovudine TherapyLee B. Reichman, MD, MPH 15 May 1990Volume 112, Issue 10Page: 721-723KeywordsAIDSAzidothymidineHIVHIV infectionsHIV-1 Issue Published: 15 May 1990 PDF downloadLoading ...