THE IMPACT OF ANTIVIRAL THERAPY WITH ZIDOVUDINE:A RETRO SPECTIVE STUDY ON HIV-POSITIVE HEMOPHILIACS IN ITALY

BACKGROUND: The effects of zidovudine (ZDV) treatment on progression to AIDS are not completely clear. This study evaluated the effects of ZDV treatment on the progression to AIDS in HIV-positive hemophiliacs. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on HIV-infected hemophiliacs: it included 238 individuals, 119 each from the treated and the non-treated groups. For the group receiving ZDV, we included those for whom a CD4+ count was available prior (median = 1 month) to beginning therapy. The cumulative incidence of developing AIDS was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. To identify factors independently associated with progression to AIDS, a Cox proportional hazards model was used. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of developing AIDS at 8 years after HIV seroconversion was 10.4% [standard error (SE) = 2.8%] for the treated group and 17.1% (SE = 3.8%) for the non-treated group. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01). By multivariate analysis, ZDV therapy and CD4+ T-cell count > 200/mm3 were the parameters independently associated with a slower progression to AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with zidovudine seems to slow the progression to AIDS in HIV-positive hemophiliacs.