CMV infection: GCSF for bone marrow inhibition by gancyclovir in HIV+ patients

Anemia and neutropenia are common complication of HIV infection. Antiretroviral therapy with zidovudine exacerbates bone marrow suppression by inhibiting proliferation of blood progenitor cells. In addition, treatments for opportunistic infections or malignancies can involve tile use of myelosuppressor drugs; as a consequence severe anemia and neutropenia can result, thereby limiting the utilization of these therapies. In our study we have evaluated the bone marrow inhibition due to gancyclovir during the treatment of CMV infection in HIV+ patients and the efficacy of growth factors (GCSF) in order to improve the neutrophil count. GCSF is useful to improve the neutrophil count when the bone marrow toxicity due to gancyclovir represents a serious problem in order to continue tile treatment.