LETTER:Early AZT trials

From Dr Stephen Cameron

Sir: Steve Connor's Saturday Story (30 September), about the Delta trial of anti-HIV drugs taken in combination, made some remarks about the 1993 Concorde AZT trial that might mislead your readers into thinking there are no benefits to be had from AZT. The Concorde trial was designed to see if therapy with AZT, initiated early in the course of HIV-disease, when individuals are symptom-free, could extend the benefit of an increase in survival of 12 to 18 months, seen when AZT is taken later. The trial failed to find any advantage to early prescription, but this does not mean that AZT is not of benefit to Aids patients.

Yours faithfully,

Stephen Cameron

London, NW5