A Controlled Trial of Zidovudine in Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Controlled trials have shown that treatment with zidovudine (Retrovir) late in the course of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 results in decreased rates of disease progression and death, 1 , 2 but there is no consensus on the benefit of antiretroviral treatment in asymptomatic patients. 3 – 5 Recent studies demonstrating viral replication throughout the course of infection suggest a possible benefit of early treatment. 6 – 10 Primary HIV infection represents the initial stage of the disease, when there is a burst of viral replication associated with dissemination in lymphoid tissue. 6 , 7 , 11 – 13 In 50 to 80 percent of patients, . . .