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Zidovudine-induced restoration of cell-mediated immunity to mycobacteria in immunodeficient HIV-infected patients
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Zidovudine-induced restoration of cell-mediated immunity to mycobacteria in immunodeficient HIV-infected patients

M.A.H. French, S. Mallal and R.L. Dawkins
AIDS, Vol.6(11), pp.1293-1297
1992
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Abstract

Objective: To describe a localized form of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) infection occurring concurrently with the restoration of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to mycobacterial antigens after commencement of ziclovudine therapy in immunodeficient HIV-infected patients. Patients: The first 108 Western Australian patients with a CD4+ T-cell count of <200 $$ 106/1 and/or symptomatic disease to be given zidovudine (ZDV), of whom 72 had adequate DTH data. Methods: DTH responses to seven antigens were measured by the 'Multitest' method before and on at least two occasions during the 6 months after commencing ZDV. All patients were reviewed at regular intervals and clinical events recorded. Results: Of the 64 patients who were anergic to tuberculin before commencing ZDV, 27 (42%) developed a DTH response to tuberculin after ZDV. Four of the nine patients with a 'Multitest' tuberculin response of >=8mm and one patient who developed a positive Mantoux test to M. avium purified protein derivative developed an illness characterized by localized MAI infection, lymphadenopathy and/or severe fevers after 1-2 weeks. Conclusion: The development of localized MAI infection and/or fevers shortly after commencing ZDV in immunodeficient HIV-infected patients may reflect restoration of cellular immunity to mycobacterial antigens in some patients rather than early failure of therapy or hypersensitivity to ZDV.

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