Oxandrolone, used for treatment of wasting disease in HIV-1-infected patients, does not diminish the antiviral activity of deoxynucleoside analogues in lymphocyte and macrophage cell cultures.

Abstract

Antiviral agents are the primary therapy for patients infected with HIV-1. However, supportive therapies are often necessary in addition to antiviral drugs because of the devastating wasting process associated with HIV-1 infection and AIDS. Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, is used in promoting weight gain and, most important lean body mass (LBM), in patients with HIV-1 disease. We investigated whether oxandrolone interferes with the antiviral activity of zidovudine (ZDV), dideoxyinosine (ddI), and dideoxycytidine (ddC) on HIV-1 replication in peripheral blood lymphocytes and macrophage-monocytes. The nucleoside analogues had nanomolar 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) in peripheral lymphocytes. Combinations of nucleoside analogues and oxandrolone did not result in increased IC50 values. Oxandrolone used alone exhibited micromolar IC50 values in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Lack of interference was consistent for nucleoside concentrations up to 5 microM and for oxandrolone concentrations up to 100 microM in several combinations of drugs, viral strains, and peripheral lymphocytes and macrophages. We conclude that oxandrolone can be used for the promotion of weight gain in patients with AIDS-related wasting without interference with the antiviral effects of ZDV, ddI, or ddC.

• Authors: D M Segal, M Perez, P Shapshak
• Journal: Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes and human retrovirology : official publication of the International Retrovirology Association (J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol) Vol. 20 Issue 3 Pg. 215-9 (Mar 01 1999) ISSN: 1077-9450 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10077168 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Anabolic Agents
• Anti-HIV Agents
• Dideoxynucleosides
• Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
• Oxandrolone

Topics

• Anabolic Agents (pharmacology)
• Anti-HIV Agents (pharmacology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Dideoxynucleosides (pharmacology)
• Drug Interactions
• HIV Wasting Syndrome (drug therapy)
• HIV-1 (drug effects)
• Humans
• Lymphocytes (drug effects, virology)
• Macrophages (drug effects, virology)
• Oxandrolone (pharmacology)
• Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (pharmacology)