Hydroxychloroquine, hydroxycarbamide, and didanosine as economic treatment for HIV-1

Lancet. 2002 May 11;359(9318):1667-8. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08557-4.

Abstract

Most people who have HIV-1 and live in less-developed countries cannot afford standard combination antiretroviral therapy, and more economical approaches to treatment are therefore needed. We treated 22 patients who were infected with HIV-1 (viral load < 100000 copies/mL and CD4 count >150 cells/microL) with hydroxychloroquine (200 mg), hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) (500 mg), and didanosine (125-200 mg), taken twice daily. Treatment was well tolerated, with few serious adverse events. Viral load showed a sustained decrease of 1 3 log, and CD4 count was maintained (percentage increase; 2 9%) over 48 weeks in the 16 evaluable patients. This new combination of drugs could be suitable for countries that have restricted resources, but should first be further investigated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / economics
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Didanosine / economics
  • Didanosine / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / economics
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV-1*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / economics
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use*
  • Hydroxyurea / economics
  • Hydroxyurea / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Didanosine
  • Hydroxyurea