Document 1187
 DOCN  M94A1187
 TI    Zidovudine effect on vitamin B12 and folate measured by the deoxyuridine
       suppression test in HIV patients.
 DT    9412
 AU    Remacha A; Cadafalch J; Garcia-Die F; Fuster M; Sambeat MA; Domingo P;
       Hematology Department, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(2):189 (abstract no. PB0769). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94371388
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of Zidovudine (ZDV) in masking the
       Deoxyuridine Supression Test (dUST) used to determine vitamin B12 (B12)
       and folate deficiency in HIV positive patients. Additionally to evaluate
       low serum B12 (sB12) and red cell folate (RCF) levels and their
       correlation with megaloblastic changes. METHODS: The DUST was evaluated
       in 21 HIV positive patients, 13 with normal sB12, 2 with low RCF and 1
       with decreased levels of both sB12 and RCF. The possible masking role of
       ZDV at several concentrations (0.25 microM, 2.5 microM and 10 microM)
       was studied in 6 non-HIV patients with B12 or folate deficiency and in
       13 normal controls after adding methotrexate (MTX). RESULTS: In HIV
       positive cases without low levels of sB12 and RCF, the dUST was normal.
       In patients with low sB12 (including the one with low sB12 and RCF), the
       dUST was not deficient, except in one case. Attending to low RCF HIV
       positive patients, both showed a folic deficient pattern. When ZDV was
       added to samples of non-HIV patients with B12 or folate deficiency there
       was no significant change in the deoxyuridine supression pattern.
       However, in normal bone marrow after incubation with MTX, ZDV induced a
       dose-dependent decrease of the acquired folate deficient pattern.
       CONCLUSIONS: A B12 deficiency pattern in dUST is rarely observed in low
       sB12 patients. ZDV seems not to mask this test. In most HIV positive
       patients, low sB12 levels do not imply a real B12 deficient
       megaloblastosis and the low sB12 may be due to changes in serum
       B12-binding proteins.
 DE    Deoxyuridine/*DIAGNOSTIC USE  Erythrocytes/CHEMISTRY/METABOLISM  Folic
       Acid/*BLOOD  Folic Acid Deficiency/BLOOD/*COMPLICATIONS  Human  HIV
       Seropositivity/*BLOOD/*DRUG THERAPY  Reference Values  Vitamin B
       12/*BLOOD  Zidovudine/*THERAPEUTIC USE  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).