Pharmacokinetics of zidovudine phosphorylation in human immunodeficiency virus-positive Thai patients and healthy volunteers

We assessed the pharmacokinetics of zidovudine (ZDV) in plasma and intracel lular ZDV phosphate anabolites in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Tha i human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1-infected patients and healthy v olunteers. The plasma ZDV area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 6 h (AUC(0-6)) was similar in patients and healthy volunteers (32.77 and 2 2.77 mu mol/liter . h, respectively; confidence interval, -3.37 to 19.92). Although the concentration of ZDV triphosphate (ZDVTP) was similar in the t wo groups, the ZDV monophosphate (ZDVMP) AUC(0-6) was significantly greater in HIV patients (1.12 pmol/10(6) cells) than in healthy volunteers (0.15 p mol/10(6) cells). In agreement with previously published data obtained with Caucasians, the significant difference in intracellular phosphorylation in Thai volunteers and HIV patients is primarily due to ZDVMP. Comparing the data from this study with the data obtained with Caucasians suggests no mar ked ethnic differences in ZDV phosphorylation.