EVALUATION OE THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF COMBIVIRTM (3TC 150MG/ZDV 300MG) TABLETS AND AGENERASETM (AMPRENAVIR) (APV 150MG) CAPSULES IN HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS WITH CD4 CELL COUNT OF 100 - 300/MM3 IN ZARIA, NIGERIA

The study was an open labeled non-comparative study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CombivirTM (3TC 150mg/ZDV 300mg) tablets and AgeneraseTM (Amprenavir) (APV 150mg) capsules in the treatment of HIV positive patients with CD4 cell counts of 100 - 300/mm3. Twenty-one patients aged 25 to 63 years who met the admission criteria were recruited into the study. There were ten males and eleven females. Informed consent was obtained from each patient. Baseline CD-4 Lymphocyte count, Full Blood Count and Complete Serum Biochemistry were done for each patient. Each patient received CombivirTM 450mg b.d. and AgeneraseTM 1200mg b.d. dispensed 4-weekly over a twenty-four week period. 80.5 % of the patients showed an immunological response to therapy with the mean CD4 cell count of the patients rising from 184 cells/mm3 at the beginning of the study to 545 cells/mm3 at the end (p=0.000). The patients also experienced weight gain and improvement in quality of life. Few side effects were reported and these were mainly gastrointestinal. One patient withdrew from the study on account of abdominal pain and failure to notice a clinical response after eight weeks of therapy. One patient who was a known diabetic had a worsening of his blood sugar control. This responded to Insulin therapy. No other significant laboratory abnormalities were noted. It was concluded that the combination of CombivirTM (3TC 150mg/ZDV 300mg) tablets and AgeneraseTM (Amprenavir) (APV 150mg) capsules was safe and efficacious in the treatment of HIV positive patients with CD4 cell counts of 100 - 300/mm3. Key Words: AgeneraseTM, CombivirTM, Anti-retroviral therapy (Annals Af Med: 2002 1(1): 18-24

PERIPHERAL FACIAL PARALYSIS AS A MANIFESTATION OF HIV INFECTION: A REPORT OF THREE CASES

Three cases of infranuclear facial nerve palsy associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are reported. All were previously asymptomatic and had no other symptom suggestive of HIV infection. Two patients had typical Bells palsy while one had a facial diplegia. CD4 cell counts were above 100 cells/mm3 in all cases. A review of the literature confirmed that peripheral facial nerve palsy could occur at any stage of HIV infection and in various clinical contexts. It is suggested that adult patients presenting with peripheral facial paralysis should be counseled, and screened for HIV Infection. Key words: Peripheral facial paralysis, HIV (Annals Af Med: 2002 1(1): 28-30