Severe Polymyositis-like Syndrome Associated with Zidovudine Therapy of AIDS and ARC

To the Editor: The earliest trial of zidovudine (Retrovir; formerly called azidothymidine, or AZT) in the treatment of human infections with human immunodeficiency virus began in 1985. Nearly 9000 persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex have received this drug, which has been shown to reduce the incidence of death and opportunistic infections.* Its principal toxic effects are macrocytic anemia, neutropenia, and various constitutional symptoms. No cases of a polymyositis-like syndrome associated with zidovudine have been reported to the manufacturer of the drug (Collins E: personal communication). We have observed four patients receiving long-term zidovudine therapy who had . . .