       Document 0624
 DOCN  M9610624
 TI    Efficacy, safety, and tolerance of low-dose, long-term interferon-alpha
       2b and zidovudine in early-stage AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma.
 DT    9601
 AU    Mauss S; Jablonowski H; Department of Medicine,
       Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf,; Germany.
 SO    J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1995 Oct 1;10(2):157-62.
       Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96007277
 AB    Seventeen male homosexual outpatients with limited but progressive
       AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) of skin, lymph nodes, oral cavity,
       and gastrointestinum were consecutively enrolled in an open,
       nonrandomized, prospective study. Patients received low-dose IFN-alpha
       2b (3 MIU t.i.w.) in combination with 250 mg ZDV b.i.d. After remission
       of KS, continuation of treatment as maintenance therapy was provided.
       Eleven (65%) of 17 patients had a complete (CR) or partial remission
       (PR) of KS lasting more than 24 months in four patients. Response to
       treatment was strongly dependent on pretreatment values of CD4+
       lymphocyte counts, CR and PR occurred only in patients with pretreatment
       levels higher than 250 CD4+ lymphocytes per microliter. Treatment was
       generally well tolerated and without severe hematologic side effects
       attributable to the addition of IFN-alpha 2b to ZDV treatment. This
       study suggests that a combination of low-dose IFN-alpha 2b and ZDV is
       therapeutically effective and well tolerated in early stages of
       progressive KS.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS/IMMUNOLOGY  Adult
       Antiviral Agents/*ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/ADVERSE EFFECTS/  THERAPEUTIC
       USE  CD4 Lymphocyte Count  CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY  Drug
       Therapy, Combination  Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/IMMUNOLOGY/THERAPY
       Human  Interferon Alfa-2b/*ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/ADVERSE EFFECTS/
       THERAPEUTIC USE  Longitudinal Studies  Male  Middle Age  Palatal
       Neoplasms/IMMUNOLOGY/THERAPY  Pilot Projects  Prospective Studies
       Sarcoma, Kaposi's/ETIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY/*THERAPY  Skin
       Neoplasms/IMMUNOLOGY/THERAPY  Zidovudine/*ADMINISTRATION &
       DOSAGE/ADVERSE EFFECTS/THERAPEUTIC  USE  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

