Zidovudine (AZT) therapy in children with HIV infection: the Australian experience

Fifteen children (11 males and four females), on oral Zidovudine (AZT) for symptomatic HIV infection were studied retrospectively. Twelve acquired HIV via blood products, two from vertical transmission (maternal intravenous needle sharing) and one through breast feeding. Their mean age at the start of therapy was 8.6 years (s.d. 4.4 years, range 1.8-15.3 years). The main indications for therapy were failure to thrive (FTT) in 10, recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTI) in eight, and developmental delay (DD) in one, with overlapping indications being Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in one and pulmonary lymphoid hyperplasia (PLH) in two. The mean commencement dose was 24 mg/kg per day orally in 3-6 divided doses (range 16-35 mg/kg per day). The duration of therapy was 2 weeks-2 1/2 years. Significant improvement in growth was observed by 2 months; at 6 months, growth was sustained in these otherwise ill children, with only two falling below pretreatment weight. Decrease in the frequency of RRTI based on subjective reports of the attending clinicians was observed in seven of the eight evaluable children still on therapy. Improvement in PCP and PLH occurred in two children and modest improvement was subjectively reported in PLH in one while still early in the course of therapy. Overall, AZT was well tolerated. Dose modifications were for neutropenia in three (of which only two were drug related), rapidly falling neutrophil count in one, anaemia in two (with concurrent history of chronic gastrointestinal tract blood loss in one), severe GIT irritation in one and transient sedation in one. Seven opportunistic infections were reported (three in the same patient) of which two occurred following cessation of therapy, one after only 2 weeks of therapy, and one had not been on primary prophylactic therapy. Three deaths occurred, one associated with opportunistic infections and two while off therapy (one respiratory failure, one PCP).