Acyclovir to Treat Patients Co-Infected With HIV and Herpes Viruses in Uganda
Information source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 12, 2009
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: HIV Infections; Herpes Genitalis
Intervention: Acyclovir (Drug); Placebo (Drug)
Phase: Phase 2
Status: Recruiting
Sponsored by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Overall contact:
Thomas C. Quinn, M.D., Phone: (410) 955-7635, Email: tquinn@mail.nih.gov
Summary
This study will determine whether acyclovir, a medicine used to treat herpes simplex virus 2
(HSV-2), can slow down the progression (worsening) of HIV disease in people with both HIV and
HSV-2 infections. HSV-2 increases the amount of HIV virus in the blood of infected people and
may make HIV progress faster. The study will evaluate:
"Whether people who take acyclovir can avoid antiretroviral treatment until later in their
lives
"Whether people who take acyclovir get fewer genital ulcers
"How well people are able to take acyclovir and any side effects they experience from it
"Differences in the amount of HIV virus in the blood of patients who are and are not taking
acyclovir, and how HIV/AIDS is different in these patients.
People 18 years of age and older living in the Rakai district of Uganda who are infected with
both HIV (early stage disease) and HSV-2 may be eligible for this study. Participants are
randomly assigned to take the study drug, acyclovir, or a placebo (look-alike pill with no
active ingredient) daily for 2 years. During this time, they visit the clinic once a month
for a routine physical examination. Patients who develop genital ulcers or complications of
HIV are treated for the problem, and patients whose HIV disease progresses, requiring them to
begin antiretroviral therapy, are treated accordingly.
Clinical Details
Official title: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acyclovir Prophylaxis Versus Placebo Among HIV-1/HSV-2 Co-Infected Individuals in Uganda
Study design: Treatment, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Control
Primary outcome: To eval the effect of acyclovir prophylaxis vs placebo among HIV-1/HSV-2 co-infected individuals on the progression to AIDS (CD4+ less than 250 cells/microliter or World Health Organization [WHO] stage III/IV dx) and requirement for ART.
Secondary outcome: Meas diff in # of episodes of genital ulcer dx btw interv and placebo arms;HIV-1 viral load btw interv and placebo arms;Toxicity of acyclovir;Adherence to acyclovir; virologic/immun resp to ART in those who progress to CD+4 less than 250cells/microliter.
Detailed description:
Interventions that slow HIV-1 disease progression among persons with CD4+ counts above 250
cells/microliter could postpone the need for antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prolong
life-expectancy for HIV-infected persons. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) has been shown
to up-regulate HIV-1 replication at the cellular level. (1) This finding has been supported
by clinical evidence that individuals who are HSV-2 seropositive at the time of HIV-1
seroconversion had higher HIV viral loads at 5 and 15 months post-seroconversion. (2)
Earlier studies during the era of zidovudine (Retrovir) monotherapy showed a survival
advantage when acyclovir (ACV, Zovirax) was added to the treatment of patients with HIV. (3)
Acyclovir prophylaxis has been shown to decrease herpes simplex virus infections and
varicella-zoster virus infections among HIV infected patients in a meta-analysis of
randomized trials from North America and Europe. This analysis also found a reduced risk of
mortality among patients treated with acyclovir. The potential of acyclovir to slow HIV-1
disease progression has not been assessed in a randomized trial in Africa where high rates of
HSV-2 infection have been observed among HIV-1 infected individuals. This study proposes to
assess the benefits of acyclovir prophylaxis among HIV-1 infected individuals dually infected
with HSV-2 who are not on ART through a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: 65 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
- INCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. Documentation of HIV-1 infection, by either two positive ELISAs or two discrepant
ELISAs with a confirmatory positive Western Blot
2. Documentation of prior HSV-2 infection by Focus Kalon ELISA
3. Absolute CD4+ T-cell count of greater than or equal to 300 and less than or equal
to 400 cells/microliter within 30 days prior to randomization
4. All participants must be receiving Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis as part of standard
care unless contraindicated
5. Age at least 18 years and above
6. Laboratory values (within 30 days prior to randomization)
1. Aspartate transaminase (AST) no more than five times (5X) the upper limit of
normal (ULN)
2. Total bilirubin no more than 2 times ULN
3. Creatinine no more than 2. 0 mg/dL
4. Platelet count at least 50 000/microliter
5. Hemoglobin at least 8g/dL
7. Written informed consent
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. Concurrent malignancy or any other disease state requiring cytotoxic chemotherapy
2. Symptomatic for significant HIV-related illnesses (WHO stage III or IV), such as
opportunistic infections and malignancies other than mucocutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.
A history of AIDS defining opportunistic infections other than mucocutaneous Kaposi's
sarcoma or candida or treated tuberculosis
3. Active HSV-2 disease as suggested by painful genital ulcer disease at time of
screening or enrollment
4. Current use of antiretroviral medications or Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission
(PMTCT) use of antiretrovirals within the previous 6 months
5. Significant cardiac, pulmonary, kidney, rheumatologic, gastrointestinal, or CNS
disease as detectable on routine medical history, physical examination, or screening
laboratory studies.
6. Psychiatric illness that, in the opinion of the PI, might interfere with the study
compliance.
7. Active substance abuse or history of prior substance abuse that may interfere with
protocol compliance or patient safety.
8. CD4+ count less than 300 or more than 400 cells/microliter.
Locations and Contacts
Thomas C. Quinn, M.D., Phone: (410) 955-7635, Email: tquinn@mail.nih.gov
Rakai Health Sciences Program, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda; Recruiting
Additional Information
Related publications: Moriuchi M, Moriuchi H, Williams R, Straus SE. Herpes simplex virus infection induces replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Virology. 2000 Dec 20;278(2):534-40. Serwadda D, Gray RH, Sewankambo NK, Wabwire-Mangen F, Chen MZ, Quinn TC, Lutalo T, Kiwanuka N, Kigozi G, Nalugoda F, Meehan MP, Ashley Morrow R, Wawer MJ. Human immunodeficiency virus acquisition associated with genital ulcer disease and herpes simplex virus type 2 infection: a nested case-control study in Rakai, Uganda. J Infect Dis. 2003 Nov 15;188(10):1492-7. Epub 2003 Oct 28. Stein DS, Graham NM, Park LP, Hoover DR, Phair JP, Detels R, Ho M, Saah AJ. The effect of the interaction of acyclovir with zidovudine on progression to AIDS and survival. Analysis of data in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 1994 Jul 15;121(2):100-8.
Starting date: November 2006
Last updated: October 16, 2008
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