A report of eight HIV-seropositive patients with major depression responding to fluoxetine

Article Abstract:

Researchers have found that patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC) often experience anxiety and affective disorders such as depression. This depression is the result of a combination of factors including: knowing that they have a terminal illness; use of the drug zidovudine, which may cause depression; and the possible direct toxic effect of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the brain. Because the causes of depression are complex, treatment is also complicated. Patients have shown variable responses to antidepressant drugs, with different degrees of tolerance to the side effects associated with the drugs. A new medication, fluoxetine (Prozac), is reported to be effective in treating depression and depression combined with anxiety and to have minimal toxic side effects. An open-label trial, where the participants know what drug they are taking, was conducted with eight individuals who were infected with HIV but did not have any symptoms of HIV infection; they did, however, have major depression syndrome. The subjects were treated with fluoxetine for four weeks. The depression improved in all patients and the benefits remained at the two-month follow-up. Improvement was monitored by the patients themselves and also by clinicians. The patients reported a greater ability to function in their daily lives. Only minimal side effects were reported. Therefore, fluoxetine may be effective in treating major depression in patients who are infected with HIV but do not have any symptoms of disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Evaluation, Product/Service Evaluation, HIV infection, Drug therapy, HIV infections, Depression, Mental, Depression (Mood disorder), AIDS (Disease), Fluoxetine, Prozac (Medication)

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Genotoxic and functional consequences of transplacental zidovudine exposure in fetal monkey brain mitochondria

Article Abstract:

Zidovudine may damage mitochondria in the fetal brain when HIV-infected women take the drug during pregnancy. Mitochondria are cellular structures that oxidize food. In a study of fetal monkeys, zidovudine damaged mitochondria in the cerebrum, or major part of the brain, but not in the cerebellum.

Mitochondria, Fetal brain

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Oral ganciclovir systemic exposure is enhanced in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea and weight loss

Article Abstract:

An increase in intestinal permeability in HIV patients with diarrhea increases the absorption of ganciclovir, according to a study of 42 HIV patients. Ganciclovir is used to prevent and treat cytomegalovirus infections.

Drugs, Physiological aspects, Diarrhea, Ganciclovir, Intestinal absorption, Bioavailability

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