View clinical trials related to HIV Positive.
Filter by:The health of the immune system in HIV infected people is currently determined from a blood test measuring the number of cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) T lymphocytes. These cells play a critical role in an immune response. Studies have shown that low numbers (below the normal range) of CD4 T lymphocytes indicates a defect in the immune system. Conversely, the number of CD4 T lymphocytes within the normal range generally indicates a normal immune system. When a person is infected with HIV the CD4 T lymphocytes are attacked and destroyed and the numbers decline meaning that the immune system can no longer effectively protect the body from infection or cancers. However, when the HIV infected person is successfully treated with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) the CD4 T lymphocytes numbers increase and may end up in the normal range but the immune system may still not function properly as a number of these cells are incapable of functioning properly. It would be interesting to know how functional the immune system is rather than the number of cells. For this, the QuantiFERON® Monitor (QFM or CST007) test is an experimental diagnostic test used in this study to measure the immune function from people infected with HIV. The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the QFM test in HIV infected people compared with uninfected people by measuring the function of the immune system. The QFM test measures interferon-gamma released in the plasma following incubation of heparinised whole blood with a combination of stimulants. As immune function is directly influenced by cells with actively replicating HIV an additional research test called the HIV Reservoir Test will be included to better understand the level of immune function in each study subject. How long will it take? One visit for about 1 hour with Dr. Gatpolintan and his Clinical Study Coordinator to answer questions, then about 10 minutes for a blood draw (nine blocks from Dr. Gatpolintan' office). Study outcome measures (Correlation between QFM and CD4 counts and CD4/CD8 ratios) will be assessed, including data presentation, within an average period of 1 year after study subject enrollment.
The investigators propose to gauge improvements in the rate of durable suppression of viral replication by ART when OLA is used to guide clinical decisions at the PEPFAR Coptic Hope Center in Kenya, and to determine the cost-effectiveness of implementing this strategy at Coptic Hope Center.
Background: - People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can sometimes develop thinking and memory problems. These problems can vary widely, from few symptoms to severe problems with memory and concentration. It initially was thought that good HIV treatment could prevent almost all HIV-related memory problems. However, even people with low HIV viral loads can have these problems. It may be caused by HIV affecting the brain and spinal fluid. It is not yet clear why HIV causes these problems and why they may be worse in some people than others. Researchers want to study people with HIV and healthy volunteers to see how HIV may affect people with only small amounts of the virus in their blood. Objectives: - To study thinking and memory problems in individuals with HIV that is otherwise controlled with medications. Eligibility: - Individuals between 18 of age or older whose HIV has been controlled with medications for at least 1 year. - Healthy volunteers between 18 of age or older. Design: - Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will be collected. A neurological test will also be given. Participants will have a baseline imaging study of the brain. - Within 12 weeks of the first visit, participants will have a second visit. Additional blood samples will be drawn. Another brain imaging study will be performed. - Within 8 weeks of the second visit, participants will have a third visit to collect more blood samples. They will also provide spinal fluid samples, either as a single visit or a longer procedure. - After this visit, participants will return every 12 months for up to 10 years. Blood samples will be collected as needed at these visits. Thinking and memory tests and imaging studies may also be given as needed. Spinal fluid may be collected at one visit a year.
Children living with HIV from sub-Saharan Africa often present with severe malnutrition. In severe malnutrition, metabolic and/or gut structural derangement may lead to inadequate antiretroviral (ARV) absorption and/or erratic drug levels. The greater surface area to weight ratio in severely malnourished children could also place them at higher risk of under dosing compared to children with mild to moderate malnutrition. However, limited data are available on the pharmacokinetics of ARVs in severely malnourished children. This study addressed this critical gap in knowledge by evaluating the PK of zidovudine (ZDV), lamivudine (3TC), and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) in severely malnourished children living with HIV, compared to children with normal nutrition to mild malnutrition living with HIV.
Raltegravir (RAL) is a preferred option for initial antiretroviral therapy in the most recent HIV Treatment Guidelines and is emerging as a popular choice for use in the specialized population of HIV-infected patients being considered for solid organ transplantation. Data from HIV-infected persons with normal organ function have revealed few raltegravir-associated metabolic complications compared to older antiretrovirals, and in general, drug-drug interactions with raltegravir are infrequent. The absence of such concerns appears to make raltegravir a potentially appealing option for antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients being considered for solid organ transplantation. At present, however, little is known of the safety and long term tolerability of RAL-containing regimens in persons undergoing solid organ transplantation. As more HIV-infected patients undergo organ transplantation, there is a growing need for good data on such things as the effect of dialysis on RAL concentrations, the potential interactions with commonly used immunosuppressive drugs, and the pharmacokinetic (PK) /pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics in those with end stage organ failure, as well as those with functioning grafts. The proposed study will also examine transplant function and survival in HIV-infected patients receiving RAL-containing ART and will compare it to HIV negative historic controls.
The purpose of this study is to identify medical conditions that may cause particular problems to individuals receiving care for HIV infection over the age of 50. In addition, as the effects and potentially the side effects, of HIV medication may change with age, this study will also investigate the association between age and differing effects of antiretroviral therapies such as treatment outcomes, side effects and the levels of drugs in blood. Results from this study may inform future HIV treatment guidelines on how we monitor individuals with HIV infection. The results may also assist in the design of future studies for the treatment of diseases associated with ageing.
Utilizing funding through the President´s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) this project seeks to assess the effectiveness of a subset of the new Mozambican clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, initial management, and follow-up ( >1 follow-up visit to determine response to initial and/or second-line therapy) of common signs and symptoms in HIV-infected adult patients as used under field conditions by Mozambique-based clinicians in MOH health facilities in Zambézia province, Mozambique. The operational feasibility of the new guidelines will be described; they will be compared to the previous standard of care for the problem(s) of interest, and the clinical importance of differences between guidelines designed for Mozambican non-physician clinicians and new guidelines (also issued in late 2009) for Mozambican physicians will be described. The subset of guidelines to be addressed in the current phase of this 2-year project includes algorithms for diagnosis and management of acute fever, persistent fever, and anemia.
More scientific information is needed about medical marijuana use among HIV positive patients. There is conflicting information about the use of marijuana, use of medical marijuana, and the associations between them and health status/health risk behaviors/health care utilization. In addition, it is not clear whether patients who participate in prospective clinical studies differ from participants who do not participate; if there are differences between those two groups, then this would limit generalizability of knowledge about these issues. The goal of this project is to describe the use of marijuana among HIV positive patients and its association with health status/health risk behaviors/health care utilization.
The investigators are interested in understanding personal factors such as medical conditions and mental health, as well as social and economic factors, that influence marijuana (and other substance) use in HIV-positive patients. Several alternative hypotheses will be evaluated in the proposed project: 1. healthier patients may self-select marijuana use; 2. marijuana use may be associated with consequences that create barriers to seeking healthcare; 3. marijuana use may have medicinal value that reduces the need for such care.
The objective of the study is to assess the safety and ability of vorinostat, a drug currently licensed for the treatment of a type of lymphoma, to 'turn on' dormant HIV infected CD4 T-cells.