The Effect of Combination Therapy of Zidovudine, Lamivudine, and Indinavir in HIV Infected Patients

Lee, Sun Hee; Kim, Namjoong; Kim, Ui Seok; Bang, Ji Hwan; Kim, Thoma; Oh, Myoung Don; Choe, Kang Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerance of combination therapy of zidovudine, lamivudine and indinavir in HIV infected patients. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of HIV infected patients who had received combination therapy of zidovudine, lamivudine and indinavir at the Seoul National University Hospital between May 1998 and March 1999. The clinical end point was the time to the development of the opportunistic infection or death. Changes in plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4 cell counts before and after combination treatments were also evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were included in this study. Of these, 25 patients (48%) had continued the treatment more than 6 months, whereas 12 patients (23%) were lost to follow-up, and 15 patients (29%) had discontinued the treatment. The causes of discontinuation of the treatment were adverse drug effects in 67% (10/15), economic problem in 20% (3/15) and the development of drug resistance in 13% (2/15). Of the 25 patients who had been treated more than 6 months, 4 patients were excluded because they had not taken the necessary tests at the scheduled time points. Of the 21 evaluable patients, 3 patients (14%) developed opportunistic infections, but no patients died. In seventeen patients (81%), HIV RNA-1 titers decreased below the detectable level by 6 months of treatment. The mean decrease of HIV-1 RNA titer after 6 months of treatment was 2.65 log10 copies/mL. The mean increase of CD4 cell counts was 111 cells/mm3. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy of zidovudine, lamivudine and indinavir was effective in decrease of viral load and increase of CD4 cell counts. Half of the patients could not continue the combination therapy more than 6 months because of the adverse drug effects and/or economical problem.