A Study of Retrovir in the Treatment of Psoriasis in HIV-Positive Patients

Inclusion Criteria Study participants must have biopsy-proven psoriasis with 3 distinct psoriatic lesions. (Biopsy-proven Reiter's syndrome patients with 3 distinct cutaneous lesions may be included.) Documented HIV antibody (by federally licensed ELISA test) positive patients. Prior Medication: Allowed: * Zidovudine (AZT). Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following are excluded: * Presence of any active opportunistic infection. * Presence of any AIDS-defining neoplasms (excluding Kaposi's sarcoma) such as central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. * Known hypersensitivity to zidovudine (AZT). * Impaired renal function. * Significant hepatic dysfunction. Concurrent Medication: Excluded: \- Topical steroid, anthralin, or tar preparations. Etretinate, methotrexate, or psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy. Psoriatic treatment such as systemic agents or topical steroids (emollients used distal to the control lesions and antipruritic shampoos are admissible). Patients with the following are excluded: * Presence of any active opportunistic infection. * Presence of any AIDS-defining neoplasms (excluding Kaposi's sarcoma) such as central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. * Known hypersensitivity to zidovudine (AZT). * Impaired renal function. * Significant hepatic dysfunction. Prior Medication: Excluded: * Other antiretroviral agents (e.g., suramin, ribavirin, HPA-23, dideoxycytidine). * Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry: * Topical steroid, anthralin, or tar preparations. * Any other experimental therapy drugs which cause significant bone marrow suppression such as antifolates or pyrimethamine. * Cytolytic chemotherapy. * Drugs which cause significant nephrotoxicity or hepatotoxicity. * Rifampin or rifampin derivatives. * Excluded within 4 weeks of study entry: * Etretinate, methotrexate, or psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy. * Excluded within 8 weeks of study entry: * Immunomodulating agents, including steroids, interferon, Isoprinosine, and interleukin 2.