Abstract

Zidovudine (Retrovir – Wellcome) is still the only drug licensed in the UK for the management of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Originally it was intended only for patients with advanced HIV disease: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC).¹ In August 1990, the product licence was extended to include patients with early symptomatic HIV disease, and asymptomatic but progressive disease, after evidence of efficacy from several American trials. This updates our 1988 article.