[Problems posed by therapeutic combinations of zidovudine during the treatment of opportunistic infections in AIDS].

Opportunistic infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) require hematotoxic drugs. Neutropenia and anemia are the major hematologic abnormalities attributed to zidovudine (AZT). Concomitant medications associated with an increased frequency of toxicity are trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (cotrimoxazole), sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine, ganciclovir. AZT is stopped during initial treatment then reintroduced at full dosage with cotrimoxazole, at reduced dosage with sulfadiazine + pyrimethamine or ganciclovir.