Stavudine-associated peripheral neuropathy in zidovudine-naïve patients: effect of stavudine exposure and antiretroviral experience
Scarsella, A.; Coodley, G.; Shalit, P.; Anderson, R.; Fisher, R.L.; Liao, Q.; Ross, L.L.; Hernandez, J.E.
Advances in Therapy 19(1): 1-8
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0741-238X PMID: 12008857 Document Number: 541139
A post hoc analysis of safety data from study protocol NZT40012 assessed the incidence of conditions defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 86 zidovudine-naive, antiretroviral-experienced patients with HIV-1 infection who responded poorly (plasma HIV-1 RNA >1000 copies/mL) despite at least 4 months' treatment with stavudine-containing regimens. Peripheral neuropathy occurred in 21%; other conditions were seen less frequently (candidiasis (13%), herpes zoster (12%), diarrhea lasting >1 month (9%), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (9%), and wasting syndrome (8%)). The incidence of peripheral neuropathy rose significantly with the number of drugs comprising treatment regimens (gtoreq4 vs 1-3; P=.013) and tended to be higher in patients with longer exposure to stavudine (29% with gtoreq24 months' exposure vs 13% with <24 months). Because peripheral neuropathy was observed with such high frequency, vigilance for signs and symptoms of this condition appears warranted if stavudine-containing regimens are to be continued.