Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

A. Statement of Hypotheses:

HIV-infected patients have an increased incidence of emphysema compared to non-HIV-infected smokers, and it has been hypothesized that this accelerated disease progression is the result of one or more latent infections that amplifies the pulmonary inflammatory response to cigarette smoke. Pneumocystis is one infectious agent that likely plays a key role in the development of HIV-associated emphysema. Colonization with Pneumocystis has been demonstrated in HIV-infected subjects, and HIV-infected smokers are particularly susceptible to Pc colonization regardless of CD4 cell count or use of prophylaxis. Pneumocystis colonization is also increased in non-HIV-infected patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is directly related to the severity of the disease. The presence of Pneumocystis in the lungs, even at low levels as seen in colonization, produces inflammatory changes similar to those seen in COPD, with increases in the numbers of neutrophils and cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocytes. We propose that Pneumocystis accelerates emphysema in HIV-infected smokers by stimulating inflammation and tissue destruction. We will examine the role of co-infection with Pneumocystis in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated emphysema and the mechanism by which it causes emphysema progression. These studies will lead to information that will provide a rational basis for prevention and therapy of HIV-associated emphysema and provide a model for emphysema in the general population


Clinical Trial Description

We propose that Pneumocystis accelerates emphysema in HIV-infected smokers by stimulating inflammation and tissue destruction. This grant will examine the role of co-infection with Pneumocystis in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated emphysema and the mechanism by which it causes emphysema progression. These studies will lead to information that will provide a rational basis for prevention and therapy of HIV-associated emphysema and provide a model for emphysema in the general population

antiretroviral therapy (HAART), impressive declines in morbidity and mortality from HIV have been seen [18]. These improvements do not constitute a cure, however; and over 400,000 people are currently living with HIV in the United States and there are 40 million people infected worldwide. With improved treatment and increases in life expectancy, incidence of other types of lung diseases such as HIV-associated emphysema and pulmonary hypertension may become more common. Respiratory symptoms are extremely common in the HIV-infected population, even among those without a history of pulmonary infections. HIV-infected subjects have been noted to have an accelerated form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/emphysema [4, 5]. This disease is seen in those with untreated HIV disease and may become more common in the treated HIV population as it has frequently been reported in those without a history of AIDS-related pulmonary complications.

Smoking-related diseases such as emphysema are of particular concern in the HIV+ population. Smoking rates are high in this population and long term exposure to cigarette smoke in the setting of HIV infection may increase the number of complications seen. Smoking in the HIV+ population is associated with worse general health, physical functioning, quality of life, and cognitive functioning Before the HAART era, HIV+ subjects were noted to have an accelerated form of emphysema. Unlike many of the AIDS-defining opportunistic infections, HIV-associated emphysema may actually be more common in the current era of HIV as it is frequently reported in those without a history of AIDS-related pulmonary complications and because the aging HIV+ population has a longer exposure to smoking and HIV. HIV-associated emphysema was identified as a critical area for future research by a recent NIH workshop on pulmonary complications of HIV.

Whether emphysema continues to be increased in the HIV+ population in the HAART era is unknown. We hypothesize that emphysema may actually have increased as subjects live longer with chronic pulmonary exposure to the virus, to smoking, and to the inflammation that occurs in even treated HIV+ patients. We believe that prevalence will be increased compared to HIV- controls and that progression will be accelerated. Assessment of degree of emphysema and its distribution can be accomplished using quantitative CT morphometry density analysis. This technique measures lung density by pixel analysis expressed in Hounsfield units (HU) or its inverse (ml of gas/gram of tissue) which increases proportionately with the magnitude of emphysema. These measurements have been histologically-verified and give quantitative, reproducible measurements of percentage and distribution of lung considered normal, mildly emphysematous, and severely emphysematous. By adding the lung images to this protocol, we will be maximizing the information gained from this study with minimal increases in risk or subject inconvenience.

Pneumocystis jirovecii Based on our preliminary data in humans and primates, we believe that Pneumocystis (Pc) is one infectious agent that is critical in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated emphysema. Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis)[19] is a eukaryotic pathogen that causes pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts. Despite the fact that PCP is responsible for a large degree of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed populations, little is understood about the organism's epidemiology. The recent development of molecular techniques to identify and genotype Pc has provided an important tool with which to explore the epidemiology of the organism. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detects low numbers of organisms, particularly in cases where routine histochemical staining methods are negative [21, 22]. Use of PCR, particularly nested PCR, for detection of Pc has led to discovery of the organism among asymptomatic subjects. The rate of colonization in asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects appears to be higher than that seen in the general population with estimates ranging from 12 to 46% depending on the subject population and respiratory samples studied [11, 12, 14, 16, 22].

Evidence linking HIV-associated emphysema and Pc colonization Pathogenesis of HIV-associated emphysema is not understood. The disease is likely multifactorial with contributions from smoking, HIV infection, and subclinical infections. Based on several lines of preliminary data, we believe that Pc plays a key role in development of HIV-associated emphysema. The evidence linking Pc and emphysema includes the high rates of both emphysema and Pc colonization in HIV-infected smokers, COPD-like changes that occur after PCP, an increase in Pc colonization in COPD that corresponds to disease severity and is independent of smoking history, and similarity between the inflammatory response in Pc colonization and COPD. The role of Pc colonization in HIV-associated emphysema has not been tested directly.

With the completion of the human genome project and advances in human genetic research, it is now possible for us to conduct comprehensive population genetic studies aimed at the identification of genetic factors associated with development of, and outcomes from, different diseases. Separately, newer technologies such as Luminex, microarray, SAGE, and proteomic analyses have made it possible to study expression profiles of thousands of genes. Simultaneous development of statistical methods to detect patterns of gene expression and link these patterns with clinical outcomes, have facilitated the identification of prognostic markers of disease (e.g. breast cancer and BRCA-1, and markers of tumor metastasis in melanoma). In particular, these studies both elucidate the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, as well as identify targets for potential therapeutic intervention. It is crucial to the success of these scientific endeavors to link the cellular, protein, and gene expression and genetic data to clinical and demographic data on a large substrate of subjects, or the interpretation and results of these statistical analyses will be flawed. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT00869544
Study type Observational
Source University of Pittsburgh
Contact
Status Completed
Phase
Start date August 2007
Completion date July 2013

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT05454514 - Automated Medication Platform With Video Observation and Facial Recognition to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients With HIV/AIDS N/A
Completed NCT03760458 - The Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Abacavir/Dolutegravir/Lamivudine Dispersible and Immediate Release Tablets in HIV-1-Infected Children Less Than 12 Years of Age Phase 1/Phase 2
Completed NCT03067285 - A Phase IV, Open-label, Randomised, Pilot Clinical Trial Designed to Evaluate the Potential Neurotoxicity of Dolutegravir/Lamivudine/Abacavir in Neurosymptomatic HIV Patients and Its Reversibility After Switching to Elvitegravir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide. DREAM Study Phase 4
Completed NCT03141918 - Effect of Supplementation of Bioactive Compounds on the Energy Metabolism of People Living With HIV / AIDS N/A
Recruiting NCT04579146 - Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in Patients HIV-infected
Completed NCT06212531 - Papuan Indigenous Model of Male Circumcision N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03256422 - Antiretroviral Treatment Taken 4 Days Per Week Versus Continuous Therapy 7/7 Days Per Week in HIV-1 Infected Patients Phase 3
Completed NCT03256435 - Retention in PrEP Care for African American MSM in Mississippi N/A
Completed NCT00517803 - Micronutrient Supplemented Probiotic Yogurt for HIV/AIDS and Other Immunodeficiencies N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03572335 - Systems Biology of Diffusion Impairment in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Completed NCT04165200 - Fecal Microbiota Transplantation as a Therapeutic Strategy for Patients Infected With HIV N/A
Recruiting NCT03854630 - Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination in HIV-positive Patients and Individuals at High Risk for HIV Infection Phase 4
Terminated NCT03275571 - HIV, Computerized Depression Therapy & Cognition N/A
Completed NCT02234882 - Study on Pharmacokinetics Phase 1
Completed NCT01618305 - Evaluating the Response to Two Antiretroviral Medication Regimens in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women, Who Begin Antiretroviral Therapy Between 20 and 36 Weeks of Pregnancy, for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Phase 4
Recruiting NCT05043129 - Safety and Immune Response of COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients With HIV Infection
Not yet recruiting NCT05536466 - The Influence of Having Bariatric Surgery on the Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Efficacy of the Novel Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Doravirine N/A
Recruiting NCT04985760 - Evaluation of Trimer 4571 Therapeutic Vaccination in Adults Living With HIV on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy Phase 1
Completed NCT05916989 - Stimulant Use and Methylation in HIV
Terminated NCT02116660 - Evaluation of Renal Function, Efficacy, and Safety When Switching From Tenofovir/Emtricitabine Plus a Protease Inhibitor/Ritonavir, to a Combination of Raltegravir (MK-0518) Plus Nevirapine Plus Lamivudine in HIV-1 Participants With Suppressed Viremia and Impaired Renal Function (MK-0518-284) Phase 2