Persistence of Macrocytosis after Discontinuation of Zidovudine in HIV-Infected Patients. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Inski; Greenberg, Richard N.; Crawford, Timothy N.; Thornton, Alice C.; Myint, Thein
• Is Part Of: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. Volume 16:Number 5(2017:Sep./Oct.)
• Page Start: 512
• Page End: 515
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: macrocytosis -- zidovudine -- persistence -- HIV -- discontinuation; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; 616.9792
• DOI: 10.1177/2325957417702486
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2325-9574

Abstract

The duration of macrocytosis after stopping zidovudine (ZDV) is unknown. Among 104 HIV-infected patients treated with ZDV for more than 1 year, 84 patients had macrocytosis at ZDV discontinuation. The median mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 114.6 fL (range 100-128 fL). Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who did (resolved macrocytosis, n = 36) and did not (persistent macrocytosis, n = 48) normalize MCV at 3 to 6 months after ZDV discontinuation. Alcohol use ( P = .02), smoking ( P = .03), and lower (but within normal range) folic acid levels ( P = .05) were related to the persistence of macrocytosis. A persistence of macrocytosis was observed in 57% at 3 to 6 months, 38% at 1 year and 37% at 2 years after ZDV therapy had stopped. Duration of ZDV therapy did not have an effect on the persistence of macrocytosis ( P = .73). The median time for the MCV to normalize after stopping ZDV was 12.5 months.