Active clinical trials for "HIV Infections"

This study will determine whether a managed problem solving intervention can help patients with HIV better follow their anti-HIV drug regimen and can control HIV better than the standard of care.

The levels of lopinavir achieved in the blood following oral ingestion of standard doses of Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) in HIV-infected men was compared with those achieved in HIV-infected women receiving the same dose of the drug.

When individuals who are infected with HIV are started on treatment with HIV medications, the effect of these drugs only lasts for a limited period of time, often because of development of drug resistance by the HIV virus. When this happens, such patients have to be switched to different combinations of HIV medications. However, since the availability of new HIV drugs that are active against resistant virus is limited, HIV care providers are resorting to curtail medications that contain three or more protease inhibitors (PIs). The reason for this is Norvir (ritonavir), a PI that has the ability to boost or increase the blood levels of other PIs in a way that can sometimes overcome the resistance of HIV virus. In addition, it may be more difficult for the virus to overcome two or more drugs with high blood levels, than it is to overcome just one. For these reasons, many clinicians are now using Norvir in combination with two other PIs, including Crixivan (indinavir) plus Lexiva (fosamprenavir), for treating patients who have been exposed to many other HIV medications. While this may be the case, researchers also know that when two or more PIs are combined, the effects each drug may have on the blood level of other drugs could be different. For example, researchers know from some recent studies that the combination of Norvir, Lexiva, and Kaletra, another PI, leads to an unacceptably low level of both Kaletra and Lexiva. Because researchers can not always assume that when multiple HIV medications are combined, the levels will remain high enough to be effective, the investigators think it will always be reasonable that, before any combination of drugs are used on HIV-infected patients, the effect a combination has on the levels of each of the drugs in the combination should be investigated. AIMS: The aim of this pilot study therefore is to examine the blood levels of Crixivan, Lexiva, and Norvir when these three drugs are used together as part of a combination treatment for HIV infection. METHODS: Fifteen (15) HIV-infected volunteers already being treated with a Crixivan and Norvir containing regimen will be recruited from the Grady Infectious Disease Clinic (IDP). Lexiva will be added to this regimen for 5 days, at the end of which participants will be admitted to the Grady General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) where blood samples will be collected at 9 different time points over 12 hours for measurement of blood drug levels. Pharmacokinetic Analysis: The blood concentrations of Crixivan, Lexiva, and Norvir will be measured by a special technique known as reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Statistical Analysis: The blood level information will be summarized by a statistical method. The researchers will then compare the levels of Lexiva in this combination with historically published levels of Lexiva in a study of Lexiva plus Norvir; and that of Crixivan in a study of Crixivan plus Norvir. A difference of 30% or more in drug levels between this study and historical reports will be considered a significant difference.

In the context of Sub-saharian Africa, this trial evaluate one of the most simple treatment available for HIV-1 infected patients. The combination proposed is a triple antiretroviral therapy with only one intake of 3 pills per day. This combination has already been studied in the North countries. Here in Senegal, the efficacy and the compliance to treatment will be evaluated after 24, 48 and 96 weeks of treatment.

This study will compare 2 treatments in the way they affect cholesterol levels and the amount of HIV in the blood.

Many HIV infected patients admitted to the intensive care area (ICA) have never taken anti-HIV drugs. The purpose of this study is to learn whether starting anti-HIV drugs while patients are in an ICA will help them to survive and get better faster. This study will also evaluate patients who, though not in an ICA, have been admitted to the hospital for serious illnesses or infections.

The purpose of this study is to see if treatment with testosterone will reduce abdominal fat in HIV-positive men. Many HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy show an increase in abdominal fat. Studies have shown that treatment with testosterone may decrease abdominal fat. This study will determine if testosterone will reduce abdominal fat in HIV patients.

ACTG 388 was a clinical trial that compared three- and four-drug anti-HIV drug regimens and demonstrated the effectiveness of a three-drug regimen. This study will compare the ability of two different three-drug anti-HIV drug regimens to reduce levels of HIV in the blood. The study will also evaluate whether patients discontinue the regimens because of drug side effects.

The purpose of this study is to determine the immunomodulatory and antiviral effects of the glutathione-restoring dithiol, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) in HIV-infected persons unresponsive to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART).

Long-term control of HIV depends on improvement in an individual's immune system. The purpose of this study is to see if either stopping anti-HIV drugs for short periods of time and/or adding a vaccine to the anti-HIV drugs being taken will help to better control HIV infection. The study will test whether these treatment approaches are safe. The HIV vaccine in this study has been tested in people who did not have HIV infection and improved the way their immune system worked. This study will evaluate whether these same immune system changes happen in people with HIV, and, if such changes do occur, assess whether these changes help to improve control of HIV in these patients.