View clinical trials related to HIV Infection.
Filter by:This is an open-label, prospective, randomized, controlled study of the safety and efficacy including clinical, immunologic, and virologic assessments of adding Ampligen to a Strategic Therapeutic Intervention (STI) of HAART in patients with plasma HIV RNA < 50 copies/ml (PCR) and CD4 levels > 400.
This study will explore the responses of the immune system to infection with HIV and other pathogens and the changes in these responses over time. Healthy normal volunteers and HIV-infected patients 18 years of age or older may be eligible for this study. Prior to enrollment and yearly thereafter, vital signs, height and weight will be recorded. A medical history will be obtained if relevant to the laboratory research for which the sample will be used. A more extensive history and physical exam is not required but may be performed if deemed necessary by the VRC clinician. A complete blood count will be performed on the day of enrollment and yearly thereafter. Samples will be collected in the following manner: Blood will be drawn from a needle in an arm vein one or more times during the course of the study. From 20 to 150 cc (4 to 30 teaspoonfuls) of blood will be collected at a time. No more than 450 cc (less than 1 pint) of blood will be drawn during any 6-week period. Urine and saliva samples will be collected by the volunteer in private. Swab samples will be collected by a nurse or doctor, using a cotton swab to brush inside the mouth. Samples may be used for the following tests: - Hepatitis and other viral screening-This may include screening for different types of viral liver infections, such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, or G; for cytomegalovirus (related to the herpes virus); and for varicella zoster virus (responsible for chicken pox in children and shingles in adults). - Genetic testing-DNA in blood cells may be examined for genetic mutations (physical or chemical changes) or deletions (missing pieces) that affect substances involved in the body's ability to mount an inflammatory immune response. Alterations in the genes for some of these substances have been shown to influence HIV infection. - HLA testing-HLA type is a genetic marker of the immune system. Determining HLA type is necessary in order to do certain research studies. Some HLA types have been associated with an increased risk of diseases like arthritis and other rheumatologic problems. HLA testing may be used to try to identify factors associated with the rate of progression of HIV disease or related conditions. - Other laboratory tests as clinically indicated or required for research needs. Some samples collected in this study may be stored for future research.They will be labeled without identifying information. Those with interesting or strongly positive immune responses may be asked to return to the VRC Clinic to provide samples of urine or oral secretions.
This study will examine the emotional and behavioral aspects of long-term survival of HIV/AIDS among adolescents and young adults with HIV infection. HIV-infected individuals between 13 and 23 years of age may be eligible for this study. They must be aware of their HIV diagnosis, have been infected for at least 13 years and have been on an active NIH protocol during the past 5 years. In addition to the usual stresses of growing up, children with HIV infection may have spent much of their time in hospitals and may have lost parents, friends and other loved ones. This study will explore psychological aspects of growing up with HIV, including self esteem, possible risk behaviors, how disclosure to others changes over time, the commonness of anxiety and depression, and the impact that losses have had on the adolescents' emotional health. To gather this information, participants will be interviewed and asked to fill out a set of forms. Caregivers will also fill out forms. Patients who are not currently on an active NIH protocol will have the option of having a physical examination and routine blood work. The results will be sent to their home care provider.
Recent studies have shown that patients receiving state-of-the-art treatment for HIV infection (highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART) show discordant responses to therapy-that is, they improve both clinically and immunologically (increased CD4 immune cell counts), but their levels of HIV in the blood do not drop. This study will examine blood samples taken from HIV-infected children treated with 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (didanosine, or ddI) in an earlier NCI study to determine if these patients had similar discordant responses to therapy. If so, the study will also examine how these factors may be predictive of disease progression and survival. Investigators will measure HIV levels in blood specimens from children previously enrolled in NCI protocol 88-C-0129. The measurements will be done in specimens drawn before initiation of treatment with ddI and at various times during the course of treatment. The viral responses to therapy will then be correlated with short- and long-term clinical and immunologic outcomes. In addition, researchers will examine these patients' blood samples for additional factors recently discovered to potentially influence disease progression. They include selenium levels and certain genetic factors. A better understanding of discordant responses to therapy will help physicians determine the best treatment option in situations where therapy results do not show uniform benefit. This protocol involves the scientific examination of laboratory specimens only and is not a clinical study open to patient enrollment.
This 2-part study will examine 1) the immune response to influenza (flu) vaccine in HIV-infected patients, and 2) the effect of flu vaccine on HIV viral loads. Earlier studies have shown that people with HIV infection do not respond as well to flu vaccine as healthy subjects; that is, they don't make as many antibodies in response to the vaccine. Also, studies done before the use of HAART (highly active antiretroviral treatment) have shown that HIV levels increase for a period of time after flu vaccination. One small study showed a small brief increase in HIV even in patients taking HAART. The current trial will examine whether the flu vaccine does, in fact, cause an elevation in viral load and whether this increase is harmful or indicates a better response to the vaccine. HIV-infected patients and healthy normal volunteers between 18 and 60 years of age may be eligible for part1of this study. (Healthy volunteers will serve as control subjects to make sure the flu vaccine stimulates production of enough antibody to protect against the flu). Part 2 will include only HIV-infected patients with fewer than 50 copies per milliliter of HIV. Patients in both parts of the study must have been receiving HAART (consisting of at least two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or a protease inhibitor) for at least 3 months before enrollment in the study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and blood tests, including HLA testing (a genetic test of immune system markers). Women who are able to have children will have a pregnancy test. Pregnant women are excluded from the study. Participants will undergo the following procedures: - Part 1 - Immune Response to Flu Vaccine In the first of two visits, participants will have blood drawn for flu antibody levels before vaccination and, in HIV-infected patients, measures of T cell count and viral load. They will then receive the flu vaccine. Blood will be drawn at a second visit 28 days later for the same tests. - Part 2 - Effect of Flu Vaccine on Viral Levels Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the flu vaccine either at the beginning of their enrollment in the study (immediate) or 3 weeks after enrollment (deferred). Those in the immediate group receive the flu vaccine on the first day (day 0) and have blood drawn on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31, 35, 38 and 42. Those in the deferred group are vaccinated on day 21 and have blood drawn on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31, 35, 38, 42 and 49. The blood is tested for viral load, CD4 cell counts and antibody levels.
This study will evaluate the effects of intermittent short cycles of HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) for treating HIV infection. HAART is a multi-drug regimen that is very effective in suppressing HIV and perhaps slowing or halting progression to AIDS. However, the treatment has significant drawbacks: it cannot completely rid the body of virus; long-term therapy carries a risk of toxicity (harmful side effects); and the regimen is difficult to comply with because many pills and capsules must be taken daily. When patients stop taking HAART, their HIV levels climb again. This study will see if giving HAART in short cycles of 7 days on, 7 days off, can keep viral levels low while maintaining CD4+ T cell counts. HIV-infected people age 18 or older who are receiving HAART and have a viral load of less than 50 copies/ml and a CD4+ T cell count of at least 175 cells/mm3 may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, blood and urine tests, and possibly a chest X-ray and electrocardiogram. Women of childbearing potential will have a pregnancy test. Participants will be randomly assigned to either continue their current medication regimen or to take HAART in intermittent cycles of 7 days off, 7 days on. Patients will continue treatment for 72 weeks or until viral levels increase or CD4+ T cell counts decline to a level of concern. Upon entering the study, patients will have blood tests to monitor the amount of virus in the blood, CD4+ T cell count, viral resistance to HAART medications, side effects of the drug, and immune response to HIV in the test tube. They will have clinic visits for a history, physical examination and blood draws every month for 12 months. At that time, depending on T cell counts and viral load, the number of visits may be reduced, but never less frequently than every other month. Patients will also undergo leukapheresis-a procedure for collecting quantities of white blood cells-every 3 to 4 months while on the study. For this procedure, whole blood is collected through a needle in an arm vein (similar to donating blood). The blood is circulated through a cell separator where the white cells are removed, and the rest of the blood (plasma, red cells and platelets) is returned through the same needle or through a second one in the other arm. The collected white cells are used for special studies on the level and function of T cells and to detect hidden virus.
This study will test the safety, side effects and antiviral activity of different doses of tenofovir DF in children and adolescents with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Tenofovir DF belongs to a group of drugs called nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors. These drugs prevent the virus from replicating (making more copies of itself). HIV becomes resistant to many drugs used to fight the virus and these drugs become ineffective. In laboratory tests, tenofovir DF has remained effective against HIV longer than other anti-HIV medicines, and when resistance does develop, the virus may still be sensitive to other drugs. HIV-infected children between the ages of 4 and 18 years who weigh at least 10 kg (22 pounds) may be eligible for this study. They must be able to receive antiretroviral therapy and have completed at least two previous antiretroviral courses of treatment without benefit. Upon entering the study, participants will have physical, eye and neuropsychiatric examinations, blood tests, including tests to determine what anti-HIV drugs the patient is resistant to, an echocardiogram (echo), electrocardiogram (EKG), chest X-ray, head CT scan, skin tests, and special tests to examine the bones. These physical exams and tests will be repeated throughout the study to determine changes in health. Participants will continue their current anti-HIV therapy for 2 weeks and then stop all medicines for a 1-week 'washout' period. After the washout period, patients will begin taking tenofovir DF. For the first 2 days on the drug, a small blood sample (1/2 teaspoon) will be collected 11 times over a 48-hour period through. A heparin lock (a tube kept in place in a vein) may be put in place to avoid multiple needle sticks. Blood samples will be collected for another 4 days to measure how well tenofovir DF alone works against HIV before other drugs are added to the treatment regimen. After these first 6 days, at least two other anti-HIV drugs will be added. They will be selected based on the results of the earlier blood tests for resistance and on the child's medication history. After 3 days of combination therapy, patients will continue therapy on an outpatient basis. They will be seen in the clinic every 4 weeks at the start of the study and then every 12 weeks for physical exams, lab tests and other procedures as needed. The study will last approximately 48 weeks. Patients who benefit from therapy may be able to continue to receive tenofovir DF from the drug company sponsor or as part of another study, or the protocol for this study may be amended to lengthen the treatment period.
This study will evaluate whether a drug called T-20 can slow or prevent a rapid return of HIV in the blood when HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) is stopped temporarily. HAART is a multi-dose regimen that is very effective in suppressing HIV and perhaps slowing or halting progression of the viral infection towards AIDS. However, this treatment is not problem-oriented. It cannot completely rid the body of virus, and long-term therapy carries a risk of toxicity (harmful side effects). Moreover, the treatment is difficult to adhere to because of the many pills and capsules that must be taken daily. When patients stop taking HAART, their viral levels climb again. This study will see if T-20 can prolong the time it takes for HIV blood levels to rise in patients who stop HAART temporarily. The results may provide insight into possible new HAART-sparing treatments. HIV-infected patients 18 years of age and older who have received HAART for at least 1 month may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood and urine tests and possibly a chest X-ray and electrocardiogram (EKG). Participants will receive either 100 Mg. of T-20 twice a day or 200 Mg. once a day, injected under the skin, and their normal HAART regimen for 3 days. (Patients or a caregiver will be taught how to give the T-20 injections.) On the fourth day, HAART will be stopped and all patients will receive 100 Mg. of T-20 twice a day for 6 weeks. Blood will be drawn weekly from the second to the sixth week after stopping HAART to check viral levels and CD4+ T cell counts. At the end of the 6 weeks, T-20 will be stopped and HAART will be restarted. Patients will then be evaluated once a month until their viral level is less than 50. The final clinic visit will be one month after this time. In addition to blood draws, patients will undergo leukapheresis before beginning T-20 and possibly again when they restart HAART and at the end of the study. For this procedure, whole blood is collected through a needle placed in an arm vein, similar to donating blood. The blood circulates through a machine that separates it into its components. The white cells are then removed, and the red cells, platelets and plasma are returned to the body, either through the same needle used to draw the blood or through a second needle placed in the other arm. The white cells are used to study T cell function and levels and to detect hidden virus.
This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of adding the experimental drug adefovir dipivoxil to lamivudine for treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in HIV-infected patients with liver cirrhosis. Adefovir inhibits HBV by interfering with replication of the virus's genetic material. In some people, the drug has been active against strains of HBV that are resistant to lamivudine; it may also have some activity against HIV. HIV-infected patients 21 years of age and older with chronic hepatitis B infection and liver cirrhosis who have received lamivudine treatment for at least 1 year may be eligible for this 48-week study. Candidates will be screened with a complete medical history, blood tests and a 24-hour urine collection. Blood tests include HLA typing (a test of genetic markers on white blood cells that permit specialized immunology studies). Within 4 weeks, candidates who appear eligible for the study will have a physical examination and medical history, an abdominal ultrasound (imaging test using sound waves) to check for cancer of the liver, chest X-ray and electrocardiogram (EKG). Blood and urine tests will also be done, and women who can become pregnant will have a pregnancy test. Patients who meet the study criteria and decide to participate will then start treatment with one 10-mg adefovir pill per day by mouth. In addition, patients will continue to take all other medications prescribed by their doctor. Follow-up clinic visits will be scheduled as follows: - Days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 21 - Blood will be drawn for specialized immunology tests and to measure blood levels of HIV and HBV. - Weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44 - Blood and urine (single sample) tests will be done to determine the side effects of adefovir and its effect on the HBV infection. - Week 48 or early termination (end of study) - Blood tests (including tests for hepatitis C and D), abdominal ultrasound and a 24-hour urine collection to evaluate kidney function will be done. - Monthly visits beyond week 48 - Based on the HBV response to treatment and the availability of the drug from the sponsor, patients may be offered to extend their treatment with adefovir. Those who continue will have monthly follow-up visits for blood and urine (single sample) tests.
This study will examine whether interleukin-2 (IL-2) plus antiretroviral therapy (ART) slows HIV disease progression in patients with low CD4+ T cell counts compared with patients taking ART alone. CD4+ T cells are a subset of lymphocytes-white blood cells that are part of the body's immune system. IL-2 is a protein that is naturally produced by lymphocytes. Given in intermittent cycles, IL-2 can raise CD4+ T cell counts in some HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral drugs. This study will examine whether the increase in CD4+ T cells lowers the risk of AIDS-related illnesses and death. HIV-infected patients 18 years of age and older with a viral load under 10,000 copies per milliliter and a CD4+ T cell count between 50 and 299 cells per cubic millimeter who are taking antiretroviral therapy and who have not previously received IL-2 therapy may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, and blood and urine tests. Participation in the study will be from 4.5 to 6 years, depending on what point in the duration of the study the individual patient is enrolled. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive IL-2 plus ART or ART alone. All participants will be advised individually about the best ART regimen for them. Patients in the IL-2 treatment group will be taught how to self-inject IL-2 under the skin (similar to insulin injections). They will inject IL-2 twice a day for 5 days every 8 weeks for the first year (until week 49 of the study). From week 49 on they may receive 5-day cycles of IL-2 every 4 months when needed to maintain CD4+ T cell count elevations. An extra cycle may be given 2 months after the week 49 follow-up visit (see follow-up schedule below), depending on their CD4+ T cell count. Patients whose cell counts have not increased after 12 to 16 months of IL-2 treatment will discuss with the doctor the possibility of stopping IL-2. Those who do stop IL-2 treatment will be asked to remain in the study for follow-up evaluations. All patients will be followed in the clinic every 2 months for the first year of the study (weeks 1, 9, 17, 25, 33, 41 and 49) and every 4 months during years 2-6 for a brief history and physical exam, urine and blood tests, return of diary cards (record of drug side effects) and medication review. During the visits from the second year on, patients will also be asked about their ability to do certain ordinary tasks, such as taking care of themselves; ...