Zalcitabine
Zalcitabine
Zalcitabine (/zælˈsɪtəbiːn/), also known as 2',3'-dideoxycytidine and often abbreviated ddC, is a nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) used to prevent HIV from reproducing in the body.
Etymology
The name "Zalcitabine" is derived from the compound's chemical structure, which is a modified form of the nucleoside cytidine. The "Zal" prefix is an abbreviation of "2',3'-dideoxy", indicating the absence of two hydroxyl groups in the 2' and 3' positions of the sugar ring, while "citabine" is a common suffix for cytidine analogues.
Usage
Zalcitabine is used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. It works by inhibiting the action of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that HIV needs to reproduce.
Side Effects
Common side effects of Zalcitabine include nausea, headache, and neuropathy. Severe side effects may include pancreatitis and hepatotoxicity.
Related Terms
- Nucleoside analogue
- Reverse transcriptase inhibitor
- HIV
- HIV-1
- Nausea
- Headache
- Neuropathy
- Pancreatitis
- Hepatotoxicity
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Zalcitabine
- Wikipedia's article - Zalcitabine
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