Active clinical trials for "HIV Infections"

To compare the effectiveness of zalcitabine ( dideoxycytidine; ddC ) therapy to zidovudine ( AZT ) in the treatment of AIDS or advanced AIDS related complex ( ARC ) in patients who have already received at least 1 year of AZT therapy and to define the safety profile. ddC has been shown to have an antiviral effect, and AZT is known to significantly decrease mortality and to 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. This may be due to the emergence of AZT resistant virus isolated from some patients who have been on long-term AZT therapy. These isolates were still sensitive to ddC. A study of long-term effectiveness of ddC in patients with AIDS or advanced ARC who have been on long-term AZT therapy is warranted because (1) ddC has antiviral activity, (2) there is no blood toxicity associated with taking ddC, and (3) the effectiveness of ddC in test tube studies does not seem to be diminished by decreased effectiveness of AZT.

To evaluate the efficacy of AZT versus ddC in terms of survival, antiviral effects, neurological status, and health status in patients post Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) who received long-term AZT therapy in ACTG protocol 002 While treatment with AZT has been found to be effective in prolonging survival and reducing the numbers of opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS, during the second year of administration of AZT an acceleration in mortality has been observed. The reasons for this are not known at this time. The study of what may be an AZT-resistant strain of HIV may benefit patients who have been and are still receiving AZT or another drug used in treating HIV ddC. It is hoped that the comparison of the effectiveness of AZT and ddC will benefit in the treatment of these patients.

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.

To determine drug efficacy and safety in HIV-infected patients treated with zidovudine ( AZT ) versus stavudine ( d4T ) versus both drugs. Also, to compare short- and long-term changes in magnitude of HIV RNA over time. Asymptomatic patients with CD4 counts over 300 cells/mm3 are more likely to tolerate any of the nucleoside analogs. d4T, with a favorable toxicity profile and demonstrated anti-HIV activity in previous studies, provides an additional therapeutic option.

Monotherapy phase: To evaluate and compare the safety, tolerance, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary activity of nevirapine administered alone in mildly to moderately symptomatic HIV-infected children ages 2 months to less than 18 years; to evaluate and compare the safety, tolerance, and pharmacokinetics of nevirapine in HIV-infected children ages 1 day to less than 2 months. Combination therapy phase: To evaluate and compare the safety, tolerance, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary activity of nevirapine administered in combination with zidovudine (AZT) in mildly to moderately symptomatic HIV-infected children ages 2 months to less than 18 years. Compounds with reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity that are more potent and less toxic than the nucleoside analogues are needed. Nevirapine (BI-RG-587) has shown in vitro inhibitory activity against HIV-1reverse transcriptase and has shown a synergistic inhibition of HIV-1 replication when combined with zidovudine (AZT) in a plaque reduction assay.

To determine the efficacy and safety of zidovudine ( AZT ) versus didanosine ( ddI ), AZT plus ddI, and AZT plus zalcitabine ( ddC ) in preventing disease progression in HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts of 200-500 cells/mm3.

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.

To determine the minimal effective (immunogenic) dose of vaccine in asymptomatic HIV-1 seropositive individuals with > 400 cells/mm3 (CD4). To determine the dose-response to a 4 fold escalation of the immunizing dose. To describe both cellular and humoral immune responses to HIV-1 in the immunized individuals. To describe the effects of this immunization on general immunological, virological and clinical parameters. To evaluate the safety of injecting recombinant gp160 in this population. To evaluate the extent of variability between different lots of gp160 (arms C1 and C2). It might be possible to increase immune responses or to induce new types of immune responses to HIV in some infected individuals by means of a vaccine, which could result in an immunological, virological or clinical benefit.