Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027947 (neutropenia)
 17,527 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The safety and activity of several antiretroviral agents are being evaluated for treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in infants and children. Intermittent oral and intravenous regimens and continuous intravenous infusion of the dideoxynucleoside, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (zidovudine, AZT), have been shown to be beneficial in improving neuro-developmental function and growth velocity in pediatric patients with AIDS. AZT, however, is limited by the associated development of neutropenia and anemia, which frequently necessitates transfusions. Another dideoxynucleoside, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC), also shows theoretical promise in the treatment of the pediatric AIDS population. This agent is not associated with the hematologic toxicity induced by AZT but does produce a painful sensory peripheral neuropathy. Sequential therapy with AZT and ddC may limit the toxic effects associated with the use of these drugs individually. Dideoxyinosine and soluble recombinant CD4 are two newer antiretroviral agents that are under investigation for the management of AIDS in infants and children. The activity of recombinant CD4 in preventing the transplacental transmission of human immunodeficiency virus is also being evaluated.
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PMID:Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-infected infants and young children with dideoxynucleosides. 215 4

At the International Conference held in Vancouver, ritonavir (Norvir) and indinavir (Crixivan) were reported safe in children. Nelfinavir, found to be safe and effective in children, is expected to soon be available through expanded access to children ages 2 to 13. T-cells increased and viral load decreased in children who were treated with monotherapy for three months and who then received combination therapy with AZT or AZT/ddI. Monotherapy with either AZT or d4T (Zerit) was effective in children ages three months to six years; neutropenia was the most common side effect. Researchers have determined that combination therapy can be started early for children.
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PMID:New protease inhibitor for children. 1136 49

Reports at the 5th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections addressed new anti-HIV agents in primary phases of development that offer treatment alternatives to people with little or no treatment history and individuals with few treatment choices. FTC, a new nucleoside analog produced by Triangle Pharmaceuticals, is an alternative to 3TC. F-ddA (lodenosine), a nucleoside analog licensed by US Bioscience, is structurally similar to ddI and is reported to have good bioavailability, once-a-day dosing, and no bone marrow suppression. F-ddA has also shown in vitro activity against multidrug-resistant strains of HIV. Adult and pediatric studies are currently being conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and US Bioscience. Oral versus IV PMPA shows promising results as a possible alternative for 3TC- and AZT-experienced patients. Further testing is being done by Gilead Sciences and HIV Network for Prevention Trials (HIVNET). Abbott Laboratories is developing a second-generation protease inhibitor, ABT-378, which has a ten-fold greater antiviral activity in vitro than the original, ritonavir. It is administered with ritonavir to increase ABT-378 levels in the blood, but has no food requirements, and less severe side effects. Two trials are being conducted: one for patients who are treatment-naive and the second for patients who are failing other protease inhibitors. Immune-based therapies, such as Leukine (GM-CSF), are used to handle neutropenia and offset bone marrow toxicities from drugs. Concerns that GM-CSF may increase viral replication may be balanced by using highly active antiretroviral therapy. FP-21399, developed by Lexigen Pharmaceuticals, is being tested as an HIV fusion inhibitor.
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PMID:Looking down the drug pipeline. 1136 93