Effectiveness of Zidovudine vs. Zidovudine Plus Alpha Interferon vs. Interferon for Treatment of HIV

HIV Clinical Trial

Official title: A Phase III Study With Long-Term Follow-Up of Zidovudine Versus Zidovudine and Alpha-Interferon Versus Alpha-Interferon in Patients With Early HIV Infection

Status Active, not recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will compare the effectiveness of zidovudine (AZT) alone vs. zidovudine plus interferon (IFN) vs. interferon alone in reducing HIV viral load, lessening immune system deterioration, and increasing the time to development of the first opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients.

HIV-infected persons 18 years of age and older with a T4 lymphocyte count of 500/mm3 or more and no current opportunistic infections may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood tests, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, urinalysis, and, for patients with Kaposi s sarcoma lesions, measurement, photographs, and biopsy of lesions.

Patients will be assigned to receive treatment with either zidovudine alone, zidovudine plus interferon or interferon alone. They will continue treatment until one of the following occurs:

• Unacceptable side effects, despite dose modifications

• Development of an opportunistic infection

• Decrease in CD4 count by 20 percent or to an absolute count of less than 200/mm3

• Rapid progression of Kaposi s sarcoma lesions, requiring alternative therapy

• A decision is made to terminate the study

Patients will be followed long term for viral load, immune function, development of opportunistic infections, disease progression, and survival.

Clinical Trial Description

Initial Study: THREE ARM (INTERVENTIONAL) STUDY

This randomized, controlled phase III protocol, initiated in 1988, was the first study to examine intervention with antiretroviral therapy and alpha interferon in patients with HIV infection. It evaluated the relative efficacy of zidovudine (AZT) vs. AZT + alpha interferon (IFN) vs. IFN in increasing time to first opportunistic infection, reducing HIV viremia, and lessening immune system deterioration in HIV-infected persons.

For the AZT alone arm, AZT dosing consisted of the standard regimen of 200 mg q4h. Persons on the AZT + IFN combination arm received AZT 100 mg q4h with IFN beginning at 1 million units qd, escalating up to 2.5 million units at 2 weeks, then in increments of 2.5 million units every 2 weeks. Patients on the IFN-alone arm began therapy at 5 million units qd and escalated in 2.5 million unit increments every 2 weeks, unless escalations were precluded by toxicity. Patients who had evidence of HIV infection and a CD4 countgreater than or equal to 500 were randomized to one of the three treatment groups. Patients were treated with their assigned medication until intolerable toxicity, opportunistic infection, or progressive Kaposi's sarcoma developed, or CD4 count declined to less than 200/mm(3).

Our statistically significant findings during this pre-HAART era study showed that interferon-alpha decreased HIV RNA viral load levels, both alone and in combination with AZT.

Long-Term Follow-up: EXTENSION PHASE (NATURAL HISTORY STUDY)

Once the intervention phase was completed, this protocol entered a long-term follow-up phase and evolved into a longitudinal natural history study. As of 2013, this work earned the distinction of following a cohort for 25 years or more. It continues to serve as an important source of data regarding the long-term outcomes of patients receiving anti-HIV treatment, and to provide information on the long-term consequences of therapy. In addition, stored blood and cells enable the study of cutting edge research questions, such as those related to immune activation, with new state-of-the-art laboratory assays. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• HIV

• NCT number: NCT01125228
• Study type: Observational
• Source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Start date: October 19, 1988