Combined treatment with zidovudine and lymphoblast interferon-alpha in patients with HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma

Baumann, R; Täuber, MG; Opravil, M; Hirschel, B; Kinloch, S; Chave, JP; Pletscher, M; Lüthy, R (1991). Combined treatment with zidovudine and lymphoblast interferon-alpha in patients with HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Klinische Wochenschrift, 69(8), pp. 360-7. Berlin: Springer 10.1007/BF02115785

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A combination of oral zidovudine (250 mg twice daily) and subcutaneous interferon-alpha (10 x 10(6) units daily) was evaluated for clinical, antiretroviral, and immunological efficacy and for side effects in 17 patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Fifteen patients were evaluable. During the study period of 12 weeks, tumor responses were complete in two patients and partial in two patients (27% major response rate). Minimal responses were seen in two patients (40% overall response rate). An anti-HIV effect (reduction of serum p24 antigen by 70% or more) was observed in seven of ten evaluable patients who were initially antigenemic. CD4 lymphocyte counts remained unchanged. In six patients who had either a tumor response or a marked decline of HIV antigenemia, the treatment was continued between 12 and 59 weeks beyond the study period. Two of four patients with tumor regression at 12 weeks had an additional tumor response in this period despite prior dose reduction of interferon due to toxicity. Late progression of KS was eventually observed in four of six patients on prolonged treatment. The responsiveness of Kaposi's sarcoma seen in this study in patients with low CD4 counts and prior constitutional symptoms (fever, weight loss) was unexpected and needs further confirmation by larger patient groups. Dose-limiting toxicities were bone marrow depression (severe anemia in four and neutropenia with anemia in two patients), subjective adverse experiences (fever, fatigue, myalgia; four patients) and both (two patients).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute for Infectious Diseases
UniBE Contributor:	Täuber, Martin G.
ISSN:	0023-2173
ISBN:	1909399
Publisher:	Springer
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:00
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:18
Publisher DOI:	10.1007/BF02115785
PubMed ID:	1909399
Web of Science ID:	A1991FQ20100006
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/25844 (FactScience: 61065)