HIV therapy advances. Pediatric antiretroviral choices.

BACKGROUND: Zidovudine is the initial treatment of choice in HIV-infected children. Zalcitabine or didanosine may be used in children who do not respond adequately or who are intolerant of zidovudine. Several studies of the latter agents are reviewed. MONOTHERAPY STUDIES: Zalcitabine at 0.005 or 0.01 mg/kg three times a day was associated with stabilization of growth and a decline in p24 antigen levels in more than 50% of treated children. In a dose-ranging study of didanosine, 30% of children showed an increase in CD4 cell counts and gained weight. There was a correlation between the plasma didanosine concentration and an improvement in IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and p24 status. STUDIES ON COMBINATION THERAPY: In a 12-18 month trial of zidovudine/zalcitabine in 13 children, most gained weight and more than half showed improved CD4 cell counts. The combination of various doses of didanosine with zidovudine was associated with a reduction in viral titer, a significant increase in CD4 cell counts and a trend towards increased weight in many children. STUDY IN MOTHER TO INFANT TRANSMISSION: Zidovudine or placebo was administered to women throughout pregnancy and during labor and to their new-born infants up to 6 weeks of age. The infection rate for the zidovudine-treated group was 8.3% compared with 25.5% for the placebo group (P = 0.000056).
CONCLUSION: Zalcitabine and didanosine are useful drugs in the treatment of HIV-infected children. Zidovudine is associated with a reduced rate of mother to infant viral transmission.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes