The Effectiveness of Three Anti-HIV Drug Combinations in HIV-Infected Patients Who Have Never Used Anti-HIV Drugs

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Required: TMP / SMX, aerosolized pentamidine, or dapsone for PCP prophylaxis. Allowed: Atovaquone. IV pentamidine. TMP / SMX. Trimetrexate. Trimethoprim-dapsone. Clindamycin-primaquine. Topical antifungals. Clotrimazole. Ketoconazole. Fluconazole. Amphotericin B. Itraconazole. Rifabutin. Isoniazid. Pyrazinamide. Clofazimine. Clarithromycin. Azithromycin. Ethambutol. Amikacin. Ciprofloxacin. Ofloxacin. Pyrimethamine. Sulfadiazine. Clindamycin. Filgrastim ( G-CSF ). Up to 1000 mg/day acyclovir. Erythropoietin. Antibiotics. Antipyretics. Analgesics. Antiemetics. Rifampin. Concurrent Treatment: Allowed: Local radiation therapy. Patients must have: HIV infection. CD4 count 300 - 600 cells/mm3. NO history of AIDS. NO active opportunistic infection. NO prior nucleoside therapy. Life expectancy at least 2 years. Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded: Serious underlying medical condition other than HIV such that life expectancy is less than 2 years. Malignancy requiring systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy. Active grade 2 or worse peripheral neuropathy. Concurrent Medication: Excluded: Antiretrovirals other than study drugs. Systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy. Foscarnet. Patients with the following prior conditions are excluded: Chronic diarrhea defined as three or more stools per day for 15 days, within 30 days prior to study entry. Unexplained temperature >= 38.5 C for any 7 days within 30 days prior to study entry. Active participation in other experimental therapy within 30 days prior to study entry. Prior Medication: Excluded: Prior nucleoside antiretrovirals of 1 week or longer duration. Any antiretroviral within 90 days prior to study entry. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors within 30 days prior to study entry. Biologic response modifiers such as IL-2 and interferon within 30 days prior to study entry.