Active clinical trials for "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome"

To determine the relative clinical efficacy of zidovudine ( AZT ) plus didanosine (ddI), AZT plus zalcitabine ( ddC ), AZT alternating monthly with ddI, and AZT/ddI plus nevirapine in HIV-infected patients with advanced disease. The rapid emergence of resistant HIV strains has been observed in patients receiving monotherapy with a nucleoside analog or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Use of combination therapy with two nucleoside drugs or convergent combination therapy with two nucleosides and a non-nucleoside RT inhibitor may minimize the evolution of these resistant HIV strains. Since toxicity is a major problem in patients with advanced disease who are receiving combination nucleoside therapy, alternating the two drugs may provide a way of retaining several benefits of combination therapy while minimizing the increased toxicity.

To compare the antiviral activity, safety, toxicity, and steady-state pharmacokinetics of zidovudine, didanosine, and nevirapine used in combination in patients with HIV infection. The duration of clinical benefit from zidovudine (AZT) may be limited because of development of viral resistance to the drug. Use of combination antiretroviral therapy can potentially reduce viral load and prevent emergence of multidrug resistance.

To evaluate the safety of zalcitabine (dideoxycytidine; ddC) alone and in combination with zidovudine (AZT) versus AZT alone when administered to asymptomatic patients with a CD4 count = or < 200 cells/mm3 and symptomatic patients with a CD4 count = or < 300 cells/mm3. To compare the effectiveness of ddC alone and in combination with AZT versus AZT alone. ddC has been shown to demonstrate an antiviral effect. AZT has been shown to significantly decrease mortality and reduce the frequency of opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS or advanced ARC. After 1 year of AZT therapy, the effectiveness tends to diminish and patients progress with more opportunistic infections and higher mortality rates. Because of the demonstrated antiviral activity, absence of hematologic toxicity, and lack of cross tolerance in laboratory studies of ddC, a study to investigate the long-term effectiveness of ddC in patients with HIV infection who have received AZT therapy is warranted.

To evaluate and compare the long-term (48-177 weeks) safety, tolerance, and efficacy of two doses of zalcitabine ( dideoxycytidine; ddC ) taken orally every 8 hours in children with symptomatic HIV infection who have one of the following: intolerance to zidovudine ( AZT ) (development of toxicity during prolonged AZT therapy), demonstrated disease progression after 6 months of AZT therapy, OR both AZT intolerance and disease progression after 6 months of AZT therapy. As useful as AZT appears to be in the treatment of patients infected with HIV, it is associated with significant toxicity in some patients, and it does not prevent ultimate progression to AIDS and eventual mortality. Thus, there is a clear need for new antiretroviral drugs, and ddC is one such promising agent.

To assess the safety and to evaluate the anti-HIV effect of low-, moderate-, and high-dose schedules of zidovudine (AZT) plus didanosine (ddI) versus ddI alone in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients. Because of the failure with long-term (more than 1 year) use of, frequency of toxicity from, and drug resistance to AZT, drug combinations need to be developed to enable lower, less toxic doses of AZT to be used and to slow or prevent the development of resistance, while providing at least the same effectiveness.

To facilitate the use of zidovudine (AZT) in children who are 3 months to 12 years of age who are HIV-infected and either symptomatic or have a CD4 cell count < 400 cells/mm3 and to monitor adverse effects of AZT. Previous studies with pediatric patients have shown improvements in clinical, immunologic, and virologic parameters with administration of AZT.

To determine the safety and effectiveness of dextran sulfate when it is administered intravenously at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) as a treatment for HIV infection in AIDS patients. The effect of dextran sulfate on platelet survival will also be assessed in 3 patients to help determine the mechanism of thrombocytopenia (low platelets) noted in all patients receiving intravenous dextran sulfate in this study. Dextran sulfate appears to inhibit HIV in experiments in the test tube, but studies conducted in humans to determine its effect on HIV when dextran sulfate is given orally have not been conclusive. It is hoped that this study will show that dextran sulfate administered intravenously

PRIMARY: To determine safety, tolerance, and pharmacokinetics of zidovudine (AZT) and zalcitabine (dideoxycytidine; ddC) when given in combination in clinically stable AZT-treated children. SECONDARY: To compare combination therapy with mono drug therapy for antiviral activity and laboratory markers of disease progression, as determined by virologic and immunologic determinations. To evaluate the influence of combination therapy on disease progression as determined by evaluation of clinical criteria. In children currently being treated with AZT, it is unknown whether the addition of another antiretroviral agent such as ddC would help increase efficacy and tolerance. This study will examine the possible advantages of combination AZT/ddC therapy over monotherapy with AZT alone.

Certain patients enrolled in NIH protocol 94-I-0206 at the Clinical Center may be eligible to participate in one or more of the following new options: Donor/recipient extension phase - Both the recipient (HIV-infected twin) and donor (non-infected twin) will participate in this extension of the CD4-zeta gene therapy study. It will evaluate the safety and activity of infusing gene-modified CD4+ cells as well as the modified CD8+ cells. Corticosteroid administration - A corticosteroid, such as prednisone, hydrocortisone or prednisolone, will be added to the interleukin-2 (IL-2) regimen for preventing or treating side effects of IL-2 such as fever and other flu-like symptoms. Extended follow-up - A more intensive follow-up will be scheduled for patients with substantial numbers of lymphocytes that harbor the CD4-zeta gene. Every 3 months, participants will have blood tests and specialized tests of CD4 counts, HIV-1 viral load and numbers of circulating cells containing the CD4-zeta gene every 3 months> the frequency of follow-up visits may be reduced as time goes by. IL-2 continuation - Participants will continue to receive periodic treatment with IL-2 to see how long the genetically modified cells persist in the bloodstream and to evaluate the long-term response to IL-2. Home treatment with interleukin-2 - Participants may receive future IL-2 treatment cycles at home. Home treatment involves less frequent data and safety monitoring and no medical evaluations at the Clinical Center except at the beginning of each cycle.

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.