View clinical trials related to HIV Infections.
Filter by:To test whether zidovudine (AZT) is useful as a treatment for the neurologic syndrome called AIDS dementia complex. To determine how long AZT takes to reach cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), how long, and at what concentration it is found there. HIV infection can result in impairment in the function of the brain and spinal cord, leading to disturbances in the ability to think clearly and in strength and coordination. This disorder, which has been called the AIDS dementia complex, may be due to a direct effect of HIV on the nervous system. It is known that AZT does get into the brain to some extent, where it may reduce growth of HIV. It is hoped that AZT will stabilize or improve the symptoms of the AIDS dementia complex.
The study is designed to test the drug zidovudine (AZT) in children, including study of drug levels in various parts of the body fluids, safety of the drug, and its effect on different parts of the body. The effects of any drug, the way a drug enters the bloodstream, the way it is used by the body, and the way the body eliminates the drug may be very different in children compared with adults. The largest group of children who have AIDS are those who are less than 2 years of age. AIDS is often first identified in infants who are about 6 months old. Studies of AZT show that it might be useful in the treatment of AIDS. Thus it is important to study the effects of the drug in children.
To examine the dose of zidovudine (AZT) that was used in the first placebo-controlled study of AZT in AIDS patients as well as a lower dose of AZT in order to determine if the lower dose results in less harmful side effects while still being effective. Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of AZT in AIDS therapy. AZT has been effective in test tube studies at varying doses. There is a need to see if lower doses result in effective therapy with less harmful side effects.
To determine the safety and effectiveness of treatment with ribavirin (RBV) plus isoprinosine (INPX) in preventing the development of AIDS in patients infected with the AIDS virus (HIV). Also to determine the maximal dose of RBV that can be tolerated by HIV-infected patients when RBV is given with INPX. The patients may or may not have generalized lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS). RBV has prevented the development of AIDS in some HIV-infected patients with LAS and INPX has stimulated the immune system of patients infected with HIV. The immune system fights infections in the human body, and the HIV attacks T cells that are an important part of the immune system. Reports from individual cases treated with both RBV and INPX suggest that clinical improvements occurred in HIV-infected patients, but there is no reliable information on the safety and effectiveness of this drug combination in such patients.
To determine the safety and effectiveness of intravenous ganciclovir (also known as DHPG) in the treatment of sight-threatening cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS. CMV retinitis is a severe vision-threatening viral infection of the retina of the eye. It occurs in patients whose immune function has been impaired and is the most common cause of blindness in patients with AIDS. Ganciclovir (GCV) improved the signs and symptoms of CMV retinitis in approximately 80 percent of the patients treated for 2 weeks, but almost all of the patients treated with GCV had a relapse after treatment was stopped. Thus, it is important to determine if GCV can be safely given over a long period of time (maintenance therapy) and if it is effective in preventing a relapse of CMV retinitis.
To study the safety and effectiveness of foscarnet in the treatment of AIDS patients who have active infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) that is causing inflammation of the retina (retinitis). In addition, these patients cannot be treated with ganciclovir (DHPG) because of its toxic effect on the body's blood-forming cells or because white blood cell or platelet counts were too low. CMV is a common virus, which can cause blindness and death in AIDS patients. Previous studies demonstrate that foscarnet has been effective in both AIDS and non-AIDS patients with CMV infection. Although treatment with ganciclovir (DHPG) is also effective, a significant toxicity leading to dose-limiting neutropenia (low white blood cell count) in one third of treated patients has been associated with the drug. Based on the serious nature of CMV retinitis and the lack of alternative drug therapies for DHPG-sensitive patients, the present study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) foscarnet in AIDS patients with CMV retinitis.
To evaluate the anti-HIV effect of single agent versus combination therapy with zidovudine (AZT) and interferon alfa-2a (IFN-A2a), as measured by p24 protein expression, viral growth and infectivity in patients with symptomatic HIV disease. To assess the safety of low dose schedules of AZT and IFN-A2a, alone and in combination, as measured by neutrophil counts and hepatic transaminase levels. To evaluate the comparative effects of single agent versus combination therapy with AZT and IFN-A2a on CD4 cell counts and skin test reactivity. AZT is known to be an effective treatment for HIV infection. However, patients may develop reactions to AZT when it is administered for long periods of time. Combining AZT with another drug at lower doses might reduce toxicity in patients and prevent the development of drug resistant strains. IFN-A2a can reduce the growth of HIV in test tube experiments and recent studies have shown that when AZT and IFN-A2a are used together they reduce the growth of HIV more effectively than when either drug is used alone. This study will examine the effectiveness and safety of these drugs when they are given together and compare these results with the effectiveness and safety of the drugs when they are used alone.
To determine the highest tolerated dose of the safety and tolerance of interferon beta (IFN-B) when it is given at the same time as zidovudine (AZT) to patients with early AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma. In addition, the studies will determine preliminary data on response, immune function, and subcutaneous absorption. IFN-B has demonstrated a dose-dependent ability to suppress the replication of HIV in the test tube. In addition, previous studies have shown AZT to be an effective inhibitor of HIV reverse transcriptase; Phase I and II study benefits of AZT treatment include increased objective clinical improvement, decreased mortality rate, and decreased incidence of opportunistic infections. Long-term AZT use, however, presents possible limitations secondary to intolerance. This study, therefore, will investigate the potential antiviral activities of a combination of IFN-B and AZT to determine the safety and efficacy of such treatment in patients with AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma. It is believed that combination drug therapy consisting of low doses of each drug will reduce the potential of toxicity, treatment failures, and disease recurrences resulting from drug-resistant virus mutants.
To define the best doses of sargramostim ( granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; GM-CSF ), interferon alfa-2b ( IFN-A2b ), and zidovudine ( AZT ) to give together in patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma ( KS ), to learn about the side effects of these drugs when they are given together for 8 weeks, and to find out whether the combination of GM-CSF, IFN-A2b, and AZT has any effect on KS, HIV, or the immune system. Studies show that IFN-A2b can cause KS tumors to shrink or disappear in about 30 percent of patients. IFN-A2b can greatly reduce the growth of the HIV virus in test tube experiments and perhaps in patients. AZT has also been shown to reduce the growth of HIV and show improvements in the immune system with fewer infections. Test tube experiments show that when IFN-A2b and AZT are used together, they reduce the growth of the HIV virus much more effectively than when either drug is used alone. In recent studies of the combination of interferon alpha and AZT in patients with KS, more than 40 percent of the patients showed shrinkage of their tumors, and some showed evidence for suppression of HIV growth in the body. However, the combination of IFN-A2b with AZT often caused a marked lowering of the white blood cell (WBC) count, especially a type of WBC called the granulocyte (or neutrophil) which is important in the body's defense against infection. Recombinant human GM-CSF is a human protein which is produced in bacteria. It has been shown to cause an increase in the WBC count.
To study the use of acyclovir (ACV) and zidovudine (AZT) in the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS who would otherwise be treated with ganciclovir (DHPG) alone. CMV retinitis is one of the most common opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS. DHPG is at present the only drug available for widespread compassionate use in the United States. Although most patients respond to treatment with DHPG, the medication does not cure the infection. Most patients will have a relapse and will require retreatment with DHPG. Because of the large relapse rate, most people treated for CMV retinitis are placed on continuous treatment with DHPG. There are two major problems associated with ongoing use of DHPG: 1) The development of a low white blood cell (WBC) count (leukopenia) which is a known side effect of the drug; and 2) the increased risk for leukopenia when DHPG is given together with AZT, the only antiviral drug currently available for the treatment of HIV infection. Therefore, patients cannot take both AZT and DHPG at the same time because the bone marrow toxicity is made much more severe when the drugs are given together. This has resulted in the difficult decision as to whether to forgo potential life-extending therapy with AZT in order to preserve sight. An effective treatment for CMV retinitis is needed that will allow the patient to also take AZT. ACV is presently the drug of choice for severe herpes virus infections. It has been shown to be effective in suppressing severe CMV disease in patients who have received bone marrow transplants.