Therapeutic Potential of Chloroquine Added to Zidovudine plus Didanosine for HIV-1 Infected Children(cid:31)
Chulapan Engchanil MD*, Pope Kosalaraksa MD**, Pagakrong Lumbiganon MD**, Viraphong Lulitanond PhD*, Piyaporn Pongjunyakul MD***, Ruengsin Thuennadee MD****, Sasithorn Tungsawad MD****, Olan Suwan-apichon MD*****
Affiliation : (cid:31) This paper was presented as a poster presentation in the 2nd IAS conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment, Paris, France, July 13-16, 2003 * Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen ** Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen *** Northeast Regional Hospital for Infectious Diseases **** Region 6 Communicable Disease Control, Khon Kaen ***** Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Objective : To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHQ in a combination treatment with ZDV/ddI in HIV-1-
infected children.
Materials and Methods : Fifty five HIV-infected children were randomly enrolled into 3 treatment groups: (I)
ZDV + ddI (n = 25); and (II) ZDV + ddI + CHQ (n = 21); and (III) ZDV + ddI experienced children were non-
randomly added CHQ (n = 9). Weight, CD4+ T-lymphocytes and plasma HIV-RNA were measured at weeks 0,
8 and 24.
Results : Fifteen, 16 and 8 children from Groups I, II and III were evaluated. No significant improvement in the
mean Z-score for weight in groups I and II, but a decrease occurred in group III after 6 months of therapy. In
group I, II and III, the respective change in the mean CD4+ T-lymphocyte percentage was +6.7, +4.0 and -0.6.
The decrease in the plasma HIV-RNA log was 0.9, 1.1 and 0.7, respectively. There was a trend for more
nausea/vomiting in group II/III and more opportunistic infections in group III.
Conclusion : 1. The addition of chloroquine in ZDV/ddI regimen provided no significant improvement in
clinical, immunological and virological parameters.
2. Chloroquine induced immunosuppression and nausea complicated its use.
Keywords : Chloroquine, Zidovudine plus Didanosine, HIV 1 infected children
