Active clinical trials for "HIV Infections"

To determine if the pharmacokinetics of high doses of zidovudine (AZT) (that is, how fast AZT reaches the blood, what concentration of AZT is attained in the blood, and how long AZT remains in the blood) changes from day to day in the same patient. Also to determine whether the pharmacokinetics of AZT is changed when trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SMX/TMP) is given at the same time, or whether the pharmacokinetics of SMX/TMP is altered by AZT given at the same time. AZT has been effective in treating HIV infection in some patients with AIDS, and SMX/TMP is an antibiotic combination which is useful in preventing or treating Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). It is important to know how drugs interact in patients because addition of a second drug may change the speed at which a drug is eliminated from the body, and cause increased toxic effects or decreased therapeutic effects.

To determine the safety of intravenous infusion of ampligen in symptomatic HIV-infected patients at several dose levels, to determine the maximum dose that can be tolerated, and to measure the effects of ampligen on the HIV virus infection, immune function, and clinical condition. Ampligen is a suitable drug for clinical trials against HIV because it has been shown to stimulate the immune system and to inhibit replication of HIV in vitro at doses that can be achieved without noticeable harmful side effects.

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 and immunogenicity of HIV-1 MN rgp160 (Immuno-AG) in HIV-infected patients. To evaluate the immunogenicity of HIV-1 MN rgp160 immunogen by lymphocyte proliferation, specific antibody responses, and DTH reaction. To describe the durability of the immunogen in patients who respond to the first 7 injections when they are boosted every 8 weeks for an additional 6-12 months [AS PER AMENDMENT 11/12/96: stratum 1 patients only]. To describe the ability of the immunogen to induce a response after an additional 6-12 months of injections among patients who did not respond to the first 7 injections [AS PER AMENDMENT 11/12/96: stratum 1 patients only]. HIV-specific cellular immune responses appear to play an important role in HIV disease progression since both T helper and cytotoxic function against HIV decrease with disease progression.

Primary objective: To study the pharmacokinetic interaction between zidovudine (AZT) and valproic acid in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients, characterizing AZT's oral bioavailability, plasma elimination half-time, plasma levels, and urinary excretion of AZT, 5'-O-glucuronide (GAZT), and 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine (AMT). Secondary objective: To establish the safety of short-term administration of AZT and valproic acid in combination with regard to hematologic parameters and liver function in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients. Preliminary studies using human liver tissue have shown that valproic acid inhibits the metabolic inactivation of zidovudine (AZT), which may prolong the plasma half-life of AZT and thus prolong the duration of the drug's effects in the body.

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.