Abrogation of Azidothymidine-Induced Bone Marrow Toxicity by Free and Liposomal Muramyl Dipeptide

Azidothymidine (AZT) is the only drug currently approved for treating HIV infections. AZT treatment results in decreased mortality and frequency of opportunistic infections but is associated with bone marrow depression or failure (Pizzo 1988). The termination of AZT treatment results in increased levels of viral core protein p24 and decreased numbers of CD4+ cells (Jackson 1988).