Observing Patients With Early HIV Infection

HIV Infections Clinical Trial

Official title:

An Observational Study of Viral and Immune Dynamics in Subjects With Acute HIV Infection: A Study of the UCSD Acute/Early HIV Infection (AEHIV) Clinical Studies Unit

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00005020
• Other study ID #: AIEDRP AI-05-008
• Secondary ID: AEHIV 008
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: April 6, 2000
• Last updated: March 24, 2010

Study information

• Verified date: December 2004
• Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to monitor patients who have recently been infected with HIV in order to learn how their immune systems respond to HIV infection and to study how the virus multiplies in their bodies.

Patients who have been infected with HIV recently are considered to have acute, or early, HIV infection. During this period, viral load (level of HIV in the body) rises sharply to a high level at first but then decreases significantly on its own. Doctors are not sure why this decrease in viral load happens and how the body is able to accomplish this. In this study, patients with acute HIV infection will be monitored so that doctors can study their immune systems to try to learn more about this rise and fall in viral load.

Description:

Two theories offer possible explanations for the early decline of viral loads seen in acute HIV infection. The first is that CD4 target cell numbers are depleted, so the reduction in permissive target cells limits viral replication. A second is that the host develops an HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune response that limits viral replication during the initial high viral titer. Consequently, enhanced clearance of HIV-infected cells results in a decline of plasma HIV RNA. This study examines the latter theory by characterizing viral and immune dynamics in the blood and lymph nodes of HIV-infected patients.

Cohort I (HIV-negative volunteers): At study entry a medical history and physical exam is performed, and volunteers complete a questionnaire. Blood samples are drawn weekly until Week 12, then at Weeks 14, 16, 20, and 24. Volunteers are followed for 24 weeks. Volunteers are offered the opportunity to participate in a lymphoid tissue substudy, which involves one to four sequential gut-associated lymphoid biopsies. Compensation for travel and for the inconvenience of study participation is provided.

Cohort II: At study entry a patient history and physical exam is performed, and volunteers complete a questionnaire. Volunteers with a rising plasma HIV RNA during the first three visits will have frequent sampling of blood and physical exams for two years. Volunteers continue to be followed thereafter once every 6 months through 5 years of study duration. Volunteers are offered the opportunity to participate in a lymphoid tissue substudy and/or the lymphoid kinetics substudy. These substudies require hospitalizations of 24 hours or less for tissue biopsies and glucose infusion. Compensation for travel and for the inconvenience of study participation is provided

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 10
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 13 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Volunteers may be eligible for Cohort I of this study if they:

• Are at least 13 years old (consent of parent or guardian required if under 18).

• Have no active infections or cancer.

• Are HIV-negative.

Volunteers may be eligible for Cohort II of this study if they:

• Are at least 13 years old (consent of parent or guardian required if under 18).

• Have acute or early HIV infection. The stage of HIV infection will depend on the results of certain lab tests.

• Agree not to take anti-HIV drugs the first 4 weeks of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Volunteers will not be eligible for this study if they:

• Weigh less than 45 kg (99 pounds).

• Have begun anti-HIV therapy.

• Are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Study Design

N/A

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Communicable Diseases
• HIV Infections
• Infection

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Joanne Santangelo	San Diego	California

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

External Links

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