The Effect of Azidothymidine on HIV-Related Thrombocytopenia

To the Editor: Azidothymidine (AZT, or zidovudine [Retrovir]) has been shown to be capable of prolonging survival in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who have had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and in patients with the AIDS-related complex. 1 AZT affects the production of erythrocytes, inducing a macrocytic anemia, and may also interfere with the production of granulocytes and lymphocytes. 2 There is no information about the effect of the drug on platelet production or its use in patients with the immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura associated with infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 3 4 5 We retrospectively reviewed the records of 32 patients receiving . . .