CYTOMEGALOVIRUS VIREMIA IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS TREATED WITH ZIDOVUDINE

We followed the course of cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia in 65 patients treated with zidovudine for symptomatic HIV-1 infection. Blood samples were tested for the presence of CMV before initiation of treatment and every 3 months thereafter. 13 patients (20% showed a positive CMV viremia at initiation of treatment. After 3 months of therapy, only 2 patients (3% remained viremic. However, the frequency of CMV viremia increased from the 6th month of treatment and 28 (43% of our patients showed a persistence of, or conversion to, positive viremia during the course of treatment. CMV viremia was associated with a decline in the patients' clinical state in 79% of the cases. In contrast, among the 37 patients who remained negative for CMV viremia, 73% did not show a progression of the HIV-associated disease. The results suggest that CMV viremia could be considered as a useful marker for HIV-associated disease and its progression as well as for the efficacy of therapy. © 1990 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.