Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

PER 03/10/94 AMENDMENT: PART B. To determine whether there is an effect on plasma drug levels of azithromycin and rifabutin as measured by changes in the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) when these drugs are taken concomitantly. ORIGINAL PRIMARY: To gain preliminary information about the safety and tolerance of clarithromycin and azithromycin in combination with rifabutin (three potential agents against Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare) in HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3. ORIGINAL SECONDARY: To determine whether there is an effect on the pharmacokinetics of the macrolide antibiotics or rifabutin when these drugs are taken concomitantly. To monitor the effect of rifabutin therapy on dapsone serum levels in patients taking dapsone for PCP prophylaxis. To monitor the effect of macrolide/rifabutin combination therapies on AZT or ddI serum levels. Two new macrolide antibiotics, clarithromycin and azithromycin, and rifabutin (a rifamycin derivative) have all demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, a common systemic bacterial infection complicating AIDS. Further information is needed, however, regarding the clinical and pharmacokinetic interaction of these drugs used in combination.

To compare the safety and efficacy of two doses of clarithromycin in combination with ethambutol and either rifabutin or clofazimine for the treatment of disseminated Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) disease in AIDS patients. Recommendations have been issued for AIDS patients with disseminated MAC to be treated with at least two antimycobacterial agents and for every regimen to include a macrolide (clarithromycin or azithromycin). However, the optimal treatment for disseminated MAC remains unknown.

To test whether zidovudine (AZT) is useful as a treatment for the neurologic syndrome called AIDS dementia complex. To determine how long AZT takes to reach cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), how long, and at what concentration it is found there. HIV infection can result in impairment in the function of the brain and spinal cord, leading to disturbances in the ability to think clearly and in strength and coordination. This disorder, which has been called the AIDS dementia complex, may be due to a direct effect of HIV on the nervous system. It is known that AZT does get into the brain to some extent, where it may reduce growth of HIV. It is hoped that AZT will stabilize or improve the symptoms of the AIDS dementia complex.

PRIMARY: In Phase I, to define a broadly tolerable dose of isotretinoin that can be used in combination with interferon alfa-2a (IFN alfa-2a). In Phase II, to determine trends in efficacy of isotretinoin alone or in combination with IFN alfa-2a as chemoprevention (preventing progression or recurrence) of anal intraepithelial neoplasia ( AIN ) / squamous intraepithelial lesions ( SIL ) in patients with HIV infection. SECONDARY: To evaluate the effects of isotretinoin alone or in combination with IFN alfa-2a on immune function markers, human papillomavirus (HPV) type, and HPV DNA levels. Patients with HIV infection have a significant risk of recurrence following local ablation of intraepithelial neoplasia; thus, anogenital epithelial may become an increasingly important cause of morbidity, and possibly mortality, as the HIV epidemic matures. Clinical studies of non-HIV-infected subjects have established that synthetic retinoids inhibit the progression of epithelial preneoplastic conditions and some neoplastic states.

Disseminated infection with Mycobacteria avium complex (MAC) is one of the most common systemic bacterial infections in advanced stages of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Current therapy for disseminated MAC infection in HIV patients consists of multidrug chemotherapy regimens are often accompanied by toxicities, and many patients become intolerant of one or more agents. Macrolides are the essential component of successful therapy, yet macrolide resistant strains are being recognized with increasing frequency. Thus, there is an interest in identifying additional therapeutic interventions for disseminated MAC in HIV-infected patients. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a central, regulatory cytokine in cell-mediated immunity. IL-12 enhances the cytolytic activity of cytotoxic T and NK cells, and induces interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) production from T and NK cells. This open-label Phase I study is designed to evaluate the safety and immunologic/microbiologic effects of interleukin-12 administration in HIV-infected patients with concomitant disseminated Mycobacterium avium (MAC) infection. Fifteen patients with documented disseminated MAC will be randomized to receive double-blinded placebo or escalating doses of IL-12 in addition to anti-MAC chemotherapy and standard anti-retroviral therapy for six weeks. IL-12 will be administered subcutaneously, with escalating doses every month over the dose range of 30 ng/kg, 100 ng/kg, and 300 ng/kg, or until an individual maximum tolerated dose (IMTD) is reached. Should a patient receive 2 consecutive blood cultures negative for MAC during the course of the study at a lower dose, then he/she will not be further dose escalated. Those patients receiving placebo after 6 weeks will be crossed over to receive the full treatment course of IL-12. Each new dose or dose escalation will take place on an inpatient basis. Once a patient is clinically stable at a dose, the patient will be maintained at that dose as an outpatient for the remainder of the month. Total IL-12 administration will not exceed 12 weeks, or 24 total doses.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections are very common and widespread. By age 5, virtually everyone has been infected and developed antibodies against some strain of the virus. RSV infections happen during adulthood, leading to common cold syndromes. In Bone Marrow Transplant recipients the disease is much more severe, usually progressing to pneumonia. This phenomenon is associated with mortality rates around 60-80%. RSV Polyclonal Immunoglobulin (Respigam® (Registered Trademark)) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for prophylaxis of RSV disease in premature babies and children born with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Furthermore, it has been used to treat RSV pneumonia in children and Bone Marrow Transplant recipients with encouraging results and no complications. Currently, no preventive strategies are available when approaching this infection among bone marrow transplant patients. We intend to prevent our bone marrow transplant patients from developing RSV pneumonia by employing the strategy already used in premature babies, i.e., by passive immunization with Respigam® (Registered Trademark). Our goal to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this strategy in such immunocompromised population. We believe that this will be a more reasonable approach than waiting for the infection to settle in and only then treating it, because optimal therapy is not currently available.

PRIMARY: To determine the efficacy of azithromycin and rifabutin alone and in combination for the prevention of disseminated Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) infection in HIV-infected patients. To determine the efficacy of daily versus weekly fluconazole for the prevention of deep fungal infections in this patient population. SECONDARY: To determine the incidence of bacterial (including mycobacterial) infections, cryptosporidiosis, and toxoplasmosis in azithromycin versus non-azithromycin containing regimens. To determine the incidence of oropharyngeal and vaginal candidiasis in patients treated with daily versus weekly fluconazole. To compare survival and outcomes of primary endpoints in the treatment arms.

To determine whether acute ionized hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia immediately following foscarnet infusions can be lessened or eliminated by prior infusion of magnesium sulfate. To determine whether reductions in ionized magnesium, ionized calcium, and parathyroid hormone levels following foscarnet infusions are lessened by preinfusion of magnesium sulfate. To evaluate the safety of intravenous magnesium sulfate prior to foscarnet infusion by monitoring blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rhythm. To characterize the effect of magnesium sulfate on foscarnet blood levels and urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and foscarnet.

To determine the safety, immunogenicity, biological activity, ad pharmacokinetics of sargramostim ( recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; GM-CSF ) human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor ( GM-CSF ), given by subcutaneous ( SC ) injection to patients with leukopenia in association with HIV infection.

To compare the effectiveness of standard treatment with parenteral ampicillin and oral amoxicillin compared to initial daily therapy with ceftriaxone followed by 3 times weekly suppressive treatment for salmonella infections in AIDS patients.