RAPID BIOASSAY FOR SERUM AND URINE LEVELS OF AZIDOTHYMIDINE

AZIDOTHYMIDINE (AZT) IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE DRUGS PRESENTLY AVAILABLE FOR ALLEVIATING SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS OF ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) AND DECREASING ITS MORTALITY RATE. RECENTLY, AZT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED AND APPROVED FOR USE BY HIV-POSITIVE, ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN. HOWEVER, ITS SIDE EFFECTS ARE OFTEN DANGEROUS. ALTHOUGH MUCH HAS BEEN LEARNED ABOUT THE DRUG AND ITS ACTIVITY AS AN ANTIVIRAL AGENT, VERY LITTLE IS KNOWNOF EFFECTIVE SERUM LEVELS OR THE RELATIONSHIP (IF ANY) BETWEEN SERUM LEVELS AND THE THERAPEUTIC INDEX. AT THE PRESENT TIME, ONLY HPLC AND RIA METHODS ARE AVAILABLEFOR MONITORING AZT SERUM LEVELS. THEY ARE RELATIVELY SLOW, EXPENSIVE, LABOR INTENSIVE, AND IMPRACTICAL FOR ROUTINE PHARMACOKINETIC STUDIES. IT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM TO DEVELOP AND REFINE A SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE, AND RELATIVELY RAPID ASSAY FOR AZT IN HUMAN SERUM, URINE, AND OTHER BODY FLUIDS BY MEANS OF A LASER LIGHT-SCATTERING BIOASSAY.