The Impact of Antiviral Therapy With Zidovudine - A Retrospective 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 ws 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/mm 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.