Hematopoietic growth factors in AIDS.

Three hematopoietic growth factors, erythropoietin, GM-CSF, and G-CSF, have all been evaluated in the context of HIV infection. Recombinant human Epo is currently licensed for therapy of anemia related to zidovudine and is well tolerated in this patient population. Although myelosuppression can clearly be overcome using recombinant human GM-CSF or G-CSF in HIV-infected hosts, the clinical benefits for such patients are still not determined. It is likely that these growth factor therapies will allow for delivery of certain important myelosuppressive medications that otherwise could not be tolerated. Improvements in virological quantitation in vivo should help settle the controversies regarding modulation of HIV replication caused by cytokine treatment. The clinical use of hematopoietic growth factors in HIV disease requires further study with regard to the optimization of increases in blood cell number and/or modulation of blood cell function.