View clinical trials related to HIV Infections.
Filter by:Background: Kaposi s sarcoma (KS) is caused by a gammaherpesvirus called Kaposi s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), or human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). However, infection with KSHV is not sufficient to cause KS, and HIV infection is an important cofactor. Treatment of HIV with potent antiretroviral therapy can reduce the risk of KS, and can also induce regression in patients with established HIV-KS. One mechanism by which HIV is believed to contribute to KS is through HIV-induced immunodeficiency which leads to a loss of immunologic control of KSHV and/or KS itself. However, other mechanisms may also contribute. Objectives: One primary objective is to assess the effects of the initiation of potent anti-HIV therapy on specific factors possibly linked to the control or pathogenesis of KS, namely serum viral IL-6 and plasma VEGF levels, in patients with KS or at risk for KS by virtue of being infected with KSHV/HHV-8. Another is to assess the effects of anti-HIV therapy on KSHV infection. Secondary objectives are to assess the effects of potent antiretroviral therapy on established KS and other factors related to KS or KSHV infection. Eligibility: The principal eligibility factors are age 13 or above, HIV infection, and either KS or infection with KSHV. Exclusion factors include KS that requires specific therapy, recent corticosteroid therapy, recent cytokine therapy, or opportunistic infections requiring therapy. Design: Patients will be treated with potent antiretroviral therapy. For patients with established KS, the effects of the therapy on the KS will be monitored. In addition, a variety of factors related to KS, HIV infection, therapy, or KSHV infection will be monitored. These include the HIV viral load, KSHV secretion in saliva, the CD4 count, serum VEGF levels, and serum IL-6 levels.
The purpose of this study is to look at the effectiveness of combination anti-HIV drug therapy (with protease inhibitors [PIs] or without) in patients with early HIV infections. This study also looks at whether a drug called interleukin-2 (IL-2) can boost the immune system of these patients. Doctors are not sure which anti-HIV drug combination is best to use in patients who have early HIV infection and have never received anti-HIV treatment. PIs are anti-HIV drugs that decrease viral load (level of HIV in the blood). However, PIs can cause serious side effects in some patients. Doctors would like to know if a drug combination that does not contain a PI is just as good as one that contains PIs.
The purpose of this study is to see if adding 1 or 2 drugs to the anti-HIV therapy of patients whose HIV levels increased while taking their anti-HIV drugs can lower viral load (amount of HIV in the blood) and keep it low up to Week 24. (This study has been changed. Previously, only patients whose levels increased on their first round of anti-HIV drugs were being studied.) Anti-HIV drug treatments that contain a combination of 3 or more drugs can lower HIV levels, raise CD4 cell counts, and improve survival. Unfortunately, many patients "fail" their anti-HIV drug treatment when their HIV levels go above 500 copies/ml. Usually the next step is to switch the patient to different anti-HIV drugs. Doctors would like to see whether adding 1 or 2 different drugs to the "failed" treatment also can lower HIV levels. Adding 1 or 2 drugs might be better than switching all of the drugs since patients who take many different drugs can develop drug-resistant HIV. (This study has been changed. Previously, only patients taking protease inhibitors (PI) whose levels increased on their first round of anti-HIV drugs were being studied.)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common opportunistic infection (OI) in HIV patients. The purpose of this study is to find out whether valganciclovir, an antiviral approved by the FDA for the treatment of CMV in the eye, is safe and effective in preventing CMV organ damage in people with HIV.
The purpose of this study is to better understand the relationship between age and HIV disease progression. This study will explore the possible relationship between age and HIV disease progression. Older age is an important risk factor for faster disease development, but older people may respond better to combination drug therapy. This relationship needs to be understood better.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) on growth in HIV-infected children. Studies have shown that HIV-infected children do not grow at a normal rate and are shorter than HIV-uninfected children who are the same age. Growth hormone has been used for many years to treat children with growth hormone deficiency and has been safe and effective in helping them to grow normally. The growth hormone to be used in this study, r-hGH, is an investigational hormone (not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) made in the laboratory. It has helped HIV-positive adults gain weight and improve their physical performance. This study has been changed to include a needle-free device for drug delivery which will improve patient comfort and acceptability. Patients will no longer receive growth hormone through traditional needles but through a needle-free device.
The purpose of this study is to find the best strength of chlorhexidine (a solution that kills germs), for washing the mother's vagina during labor and the newborn baby, that may reduce the chance of HIV being passed from an HIV-positive mother to the baby. When used as a wash on the vagina during labor, and on a newborn shortly after birth, a higher dose of chlorhexidine is more likely to reduce the rate of HIV-1 transmission from mother to baby. Laboratory tests suggest that a higher dose of chlorhexidine will be more effective in killing HIV.
The purpose of this study is to determine the safety of a drug called interleukin-2 (IL-2) given with anti-HIV therapy in children with HIV infection. This study will also determine the best dose of IL-2 to give children. IL-2 is an important substance produced by the body's white blood cells that helps the body fight infection. People with HIV infection do not produce enough IL-2. It is hoped that IL-2 treatment will help boost the immune system in people with HIV infection. It has not been studied very much in children and doctors need to know what doses are safe to give.
The purpose of this study is to see how beginning or changing anti-HIV medications affects the body composition (weight, height, growth, body fat, and muscle mass, or fat and muscle distribution) of HIV-infected children. This study also looks at how changes in body composition relate to changes in viral load (level of HIV in the blood), CD4 cell counts, height, and weight in HIV-infected children. This study also compares changes in body composition to levels of cytokines (proteins in the body that affect some immune cells) in HIV-infected children who are beginning or changing anti-HIV therapy. Though studies have been done on adults, little is known about the effects of HIV infection and anti-HIV drugs on body composition in children. One theory is that changes in body composition can predict the failure of anti-HIV treatment. If this is true, body composition measurements can be as useful as CD4+ cell counts in determining drug effectiveness.
The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of SU5416 in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS).