View clinical trials related to Infections.
Filter by:To evaluate the clinical and laboratory toxicity of ganciclovir (GCV) and zidovudine (AZT) when given in combination. Because recent information has shown AZT to be useful in treating AIDS, it is assumed that most patients with AIDS, and probably with AIDS related complex (ARC), will be receiving AZT. Because AZT is reported not to be active against cytomegalovirus (CMV), it is important to see if it is useful to give GCV along with AZT.
To determine whether taking zidovudine (AZT) will change the natural course of HIV infection in patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and whether administering AZT at a similar dose but at different intervals will reduce toxicity in a more manageable treatment plan. Patients infected with AIDS can benefit from therapy with an effective anti-AIDS virus agent. AZT is a drug that is effective in inhibiting the effects of HIV infection. The study will show whether toxicity of AZT can be reduced in a more manageable treatment plan, and whether AZT therapy will delay the development of opportunistic infections and/or KS lesions.
To test the effectiveness of itraconazole in preventing the recurrence of disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS patients. Histoplasmosis is a serious opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS. Amphotericin B has been used to treat the infection. Although the response to this treatment is generally good, up to 90 percent of AIDS patients who have taken amphotericin B to treat their histoplasmosis infection will have a relapse (that is, they will get the disease again) within 12 months following treatment. Ketoconazole has been used to prevent relapse, but available information suggests that up to 50 percent of AIDS patients relapse even with ketoconazole treatment. A more effective therapy to prevent recurrence is needed. Itraconazole has been used successfully to treat disseminated histoplasmosis in non-AIDS patients and it is hoped that it may be more effective in preventing histoplasmosis relapse.
To evaluate and compare 3 anti-pneumocystis regimens plus zidovudine (AZT) in persons with HIV infection and T4 cell count less than 200 cells/mm3. All persons completing at least 8 weeks of therapy on 081 will be offered the opportunity to participate in the nested study (ACTG 981) of systemic antifungal therapy (fluconazole) versus local therapy (Clotrimazole) for the prevention of serious fungal disease. Persons with HIV disease who are receiving AZT are at risk for PCP, toxoplasmosis, bacterial pneumonia, and other serious infections. It is therefore important to find drugs that can be given along with AZT to control these infections. Aerosolized pentamidine (PEN) has been shown to be useful in preventing PCP and is expected to lower the 2-year risk of PCP. Both sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) and dapsone probably also provide effective preventive treatment against PCP, and both may be useful in preventing toxoplasmosis and extrapulmonary pneumocystosis.
To determine the safety and usefulness of zidovudine (AZT) for the treatment of children 3 months to 12 years of age. This study is designed to determine if children who are infected with HIV and who have a special type of lung disease called lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (LIP) or other early symptoms of HIV infection may derive benefit from treatment with AZT. It is hoped that this drug will prevent children from developing additional symptoms and infections and will help resolve already existing symptoms. AZT has been shown in the laboratory to inhibit the infection of cells by HIV. AZT has been shown to decrease the mortality and the frequency of opportunistic infections in certain adult patients with symptomatic HIV infection. It is, therefore, likely that symptomatic HIV-infected children may also benefit from specific antiviral therapy.
To compare the safety and effectiveness of foscarnet and vidarabine treatments for AIDS patients who have herpes simplex virus infections that are resistant to standard treatment with acyclovir. Foscarnet is a drug that inhibits viruses and has been shown to be effective against infection with Cytomegalovirus and also against infection with the Herpes simplex virus in several patients with AIDS. Vidarabine has been shown to have activity against the Herpes simplex virus in patients who do not have AIDS, but it has not been studied in patients who do have AIDS. This study compares foscarnet and vidarabine treatments for AIDS patients who have herpes simplex infection that has not responded to therapy with acyclovir in the hope that one of these two drugs will help to stop further progression of the herpes simplex infection and may have fewer side effects.
To evaluate the feasibility of itraconazole as (1) primary therapy in histoplasmosis and (2) maintenance therapy after completion of primary therapy. To evaluate the effect of therapy of CNS histoplasmosis. To determine if resistance to drug occurs in patients who fail therapy. Histoplasmosis is a serious opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS. Although the clinical response to amphotericin B treatment in the AIDS patients is generally good, administration difficulties and toxicity detract from its usefulness. Oral treatment with ketoconazole overcomes these limitations of amphotericin B, but does not appear to be effective for primary treatment in patients with AIDS. Itraconazole is a triazole compound in which preclinical studies have demonstrated activity against Histoplasmosis capsulatum. Preclinical studies have also shown that itraconazole appears effective in the treatment of histoplasmosis. The frequency of adverse reactions to itraconazole has been low in several studies. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement occurs in up to 20 percent of patients with histoplasmosis, and appears to have a poor response to amphotericin B treatment. Itraconazole has been used successfully in a small number of patients with cryptococcal meningitis, supporting a study of its use in CNS histoplasmosis.
To evaluate the delivery of a single dose of aerosolized pentamidine to children; to evaluate the tolerance of pentamidine administration by mask; to compare intravenous pentamidine first dose pharmacokinetics (blood levels) in children with information previously collected on adults; and to compare plasma pentamidine levels in children after an aerosolized treatment with levels previously collected on adults. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is the most common serious infection in children with AIDS and is associated with a high death rate. Current approved treatment includes intravenous trimethoprim - sulfamethoxazole (TMP / SMX) and intravenous pentamidine, which are both effective in treatment of the first episode of PCP pneumonia. However, both therapies have a 50 percent or greater incidence of adverse reactions. Because of serious toxicities, drug treatment has had to be discontinued. Animal studies show that aerosolized pentamidine (pentamidine given through inhalation) is as effective as intravenous pentamidine. It is hoped that the aerosolized route will be less toxic than intravenous pentamidine. The study is the first step in evaluating the delivery of aerosolized pentamidine to children.
To determine the manner in which pyrimethamine is metabolized and excreted in patients currently receiving zidovudine (AZT). An important goal of this measurement is to establish the optimal dose of pyrimethamine necessary to prevent the development of toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients or delay the subsequent return of toxoplasmic encephalitis. Encephalitis caused by Toxoplasma gondii has emerged as the most frequent cause of focal central nervous system infection in patients with AIDS. Untreated, the encephalitis is fatal. The best treatment for this disease has not been determined. Presently it is standard practice to administer a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of pyrimethamine in patients with AIDS receiving AZT. Furthermore, there are reports that patients already exposed to toxoplasmosis may not have uniform absorption of pyrimethamine.
To examine the safety and tolerance of the administration of ganciclovir and foscarnet given together or alternately; to determine the interactive pharmacokinetics (blood level) profile of long-term combined and alternating therapy with these two drugs. Additional objectives are to examine the effect of these treatments in controlling time to cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis progression and to examine the antiviral activity of combined and alternating ganciclovir/foscarnet treatment and development of antiviral resistance. Sight-threatening CMV retinitis occurs in at least 6 percent of AIDS patients. By 1991 (US), there may be 6000 to 10000 patients with CMV retinitis. Many clinical reports suggest that both ganciclovir (DHPG) and foscarnet have an antiviral effect against CMV that is often associated with clinical stabilization. Effectiveness of ganciclovir and foscarnet is correlated with weekly maintenance and since toxicity is dose-limiting in up to 20 percent of patients receiving either drug for long periods, it may be beneficial in long-term maintenance treatment to combine or alternate these two drugs at a lower total weekly dose of each drug. This strategy may result in a greater net antiviral effect with less toxicity than is seen with either drug alone, because the toxicities of each drug are quite different.