ONCE-DAILY ADMINISTRATION OF DIDANOSINE I N COMBINATION WITH ZIDOVUDINE IN NAIVE HIV-INFECTED ADULTS

25 HIV-infected antiretroviral-naive adults were included in a 24-week study to evaluate the efficacy and the tolerability of a zidovudine/d idanosine combination therapy in which didanosine was administered onc e daily (200 mg if weight < 60 kg, 300 mg if weight > 60 kg) and zidov udine twice daily (500 mg/day if weight < 90 kg, 600 mg/day if weight > 90 kg). 5 patients discontinued their treatment early: 3 had poor co mpliance and 2 presented adverse events, Evaluation of treatment effic acy was based on CD4+ T cell enumeration and HIV RNA level quantitatio n in plasma (NASBA). Baseline values were 278 CD4+/mm(3) and 5.42 log RNA copies/ml. Mean changes from baseline were +102 CD4+/mm(3) and -2. 14 log RNA copies/ml at week 8 and +156 CD4+/mm(3) and -2.07 log RNA c opies/ml at week 24, HIV RNA in plasma was lower than the detection li mit (2.60 log RNA copies/ml) in 55% of patients at week 8 and in 30% a t week 24. No major adverse events such as neuropathy or pancreatitis were observed. Once-daily administration of didanosine in combination with twice-daily administration of zidovudine is a well tolerated regi men that appears to be as effective ad the conventional zidovudine/did anosine combination regimen.