Treatment of AIDS-associated gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus infection with foscarnet and ganciclovir: a randomized comparison.

Patients with symptomatic gastrointestinal disease due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) were randomized to receive open-label ganciclovir (22) or foscarnet (26). Patients were stratified by disease site and concurrent gut infection. Response was assessed by a visual analogue score of symptoms, endoscopic appearances, histologic inflammation, and numbers of CMV inclusions.

Treatment of chronic replicative hepatitis B virus infection with short-term continuous infusion of foscarnet.

Three patients with chronic replicative hepatitis B virus infection were treated for 7 days with a continuous intravenous infusion of foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate) after an initial bolus dose of 20 mg/kg body weight. Although the dose was calculated from a nomogram, approximately only half the intended plasma concentration (500 microM/l = 150 micrograms/l) was achieved. The levels of s-ALAT, HBV-DNA and DNA-polymerase changed only marginally during the treatment and 24-week follow-up period.

Foscarnet in the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the major cause of visual loss in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Thirty-one patients with active CMV retinitis were treated with the new antiviral drug, Foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate). After a 3-week course of induction therapy, the retinitis improved in 29 of 31 patients (93.

The effect of foscarnet (phosphonoformate) on human immunodeficiency virus isolation, T-cell subsets and lymphocyte function in AIDS patients.

Foscarnet was administered by continuous intravenous infusion in 15 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in an open, uncontrolled study. Mean steady state serum concentrations of foscarnet was 261 mumol/l. Treatment was given for 6-21 days, median 14 days, being interrupted prematurely due to renal function impairment in seven patients, and due to other reasons in three patients.

Sensitivity of cytomegalovirus to intravenous foscarnet treatment.

Intravenous foscarnet was given on an emergency basis to 30 immunosuppressed patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, of whom 28 were organ transplant recipients. Thirteen patients responded to foscarnet by cessation of CMV secretion. The in vitro sensitivity to foscarnet of the CMV isolates from non-responders before, during and after foscarnet treatment was similar to that of viral isolates from responders before or during foscarnet treatment and also to CMV isolates from non-treated patients, with mean in vitro IC50 values of 239-294 microM of foscarnet.

Pharmacokinetics, safety and preliminary clinical experiences using foscarnet in the treatment of cytomegalovirus infections in bone marrow and renal transplant recipients.

Fifty seven episodes of severe cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were treated with iv foscarnet in 13 bone marrow and 33 renal graft recipients. The ranges of the daily dose, duration, average steady state level and total dose were 23-268 mg/kg, 2-46 days, 42-400 mg/l and 2-399 g, respectively. Adverse effects, such as decreased haemoglobin, decreased renal function and increased serum calcium, were observed in a few patients only.

Serum thymidine kinase in transplant patients: its relation to cytomegalovirus activity, renal transplant rejection and its use for monitoring of antiviral therapy.

Twenty patients, cadaveric renal transplant recipients, were retrospectively analysed for serum levels of deoxythymidine kinase. Special reference was made to the thymidine kinase level in relation to rejection, and viral infection. Seven of the patients experienced clinically suspected cytomegalovirus infection.

Topical treatment of recurrent genital herpes infections with foscarnet.

In a double-blind study 86 patients with a total of 129 episodes of recurrent genital herpes were treated topically with 0.3% foscarnet or placebo cream. All patients considered, healing time was significantly shortened in the foscarnet group as compared to the placebo group (p less than 0.

Intravenous foscarnet for the treatment of severe cytomegalovirus infection in allograft recipients.

Foscarnet, trisodium phosphonoformate, was administered intravenously to 6 immunosuppressed patients with life-threatening cytomegalovirus infection. Three of the patients were recipients of a kidney and 3 of a bone-marrow transplant. Favourable clinical responses were seen in 5 of the patients, 2 of whom were still in good health 5 and 8 months after the infection had cleared up.

Antibiotic resistance in staphylococci from a hospital environment.

The antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci has been followed over 4 years (1977-1980). 90% of the strains produced beta-lactamase. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were more resistant than S.