A Study of Retrovir in the Treatment of Psoriasis in HIV-Positive Patients

Inclusion criteria

Study participants must have biopsy-proven psoriasis with 3 distinct psoriatic lesions. (Biopsy-proven Reiter's syndrome patients with 3 distinct cutaneous lesions may be included.) Documented HIV antibody (by federally licensed ELISA test) positive patients.

Prior Medication:

Allowed:

• Zidovudine (AZT).

Exclusion criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following are excluded:

• Presence of any active opportunistic infection.
• Presence of any AIDS-defining neoplasms (excluding Kaposi's sarcoma) such as central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma.
• Known hypersensitivity to zidovudine (AZT).
• Impaired renal function.
• Significant hepatic dysfunction.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

• Topical steroid, anthralin, or tar preparations. Etretinate, methotrexate, or psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy. Psoriatic treatment such as systemic agents or topical steroids (emollients used distal to the control lesions and antipruritic shampoos are admissible).

Patients with the following are excluded:

• Presence of any active opportunistic infection.
• Presence of any AIDS-defining neoplasms (excluding Kaposi's sarcoma) such as central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma.
• Known hypersensitivity to zidovudine (AZT).
• Impaired renal function.
• Significant hepatic dysfunction.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

• Other antiretroviral agents (e.g., suramin, ribavirin, HPA-23, dideoxycytidine).
• Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry:
• Topical steroid, anthralin, or tar preparations.
• Any other experimental therapy drugs which cause significant bone marrow suppression such as antifolates or pyrimethamine.
• Cytolytic chemotherapy.
• Drugs which cause significant nephrotoxicity or hepatotoxicity.
• Rifampin or rifampin derivatives.
• Excluded within 4 weeks of study entry:
• Etretinate, methotrexate, or psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy.
• Excluded within 8 weeks of study entry:
• Immunomodulating agents, including steroids, interferon, Isoprinosine, and interleukin 2.