Objective:
To bring new elements concerning the benefit of Tacrine (Tetrahydroaminoacridine or THA) on HIV-infected patients survival.

Methods:
THA effects were studied in 22 patients (13 AIDS, 9 ARC, 1 asymptomatic) divided a posteriori * in two groups : the first one, A = 12 (5 AIDS, 7 ARC) was treated by THA (200 mg per day) for more than 44.75± 14.07 months, the second one, B=10 (7 AIDS, 2 ARC, 1 asymptomatic) in which THA treament was stopped after 20.2 ± 6.67 months and replaced by zidovudine (AZT, 600-1200 mg per day). Results : 12 months after the stop of THA therapy in the group B, only one death (suicide) was noted in the group A where THA therapy was maintained, whereas in the group B, 7 patients died before 6 months and 3 others before 12 months (m=6.6 ± 2.01 months, p<0.001).

Conclusions:
These results
- indicate that replacement of tha by azt monotherapy has no favorable effect on the middle-term or long-term survival of hiv-infected patients.
- seem to indicate that tha clearly improves long-term survival of hiv-infected patients.
- justify the restart of therapeutic trials of tha (in mono- or polytherapy) on a larger scale.

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* the replacement of THA by azt for 10 of the 22 patients was imposed by the french medical authorities, who were not convinced at this time of the benefit of THA.