Studies of the Ocular Complications of AIDS (SOCA) CMV Retinitis Trial: Foscarnet-Ganciclovir Component

Condition(s) targeted: Cytomegalovirus Retinitis; HIV Infections

Intervention: Foscarnet sodium (Drug); Ganciclovir (Drug)

Phase: N/A

Status: Completed

Sponsored by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

To evaluate the relative effectiveness and safety of foscarnet versus ganciclovir for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in people with AIDS; to evaluate the relative effect on survival of the use of these two anti-CMV agents in the treatment of CMV retinitis; to compare the relative benefits of immediate treatment with foscarnet or ganciclovir versus deferral of treatment for CMV retinitis limited to less than 25 percent of zones 2 and 3. CMV retinitis is a common opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS. Ganciclovir is currently the only drug approved for treatment of CMV retinitis in immunocompromised patients. Ganciclovir suppresses CMV infections, and relapse occurs in virtually all AIDS patients when ganciclovir is discontinued. Because of their similar hematologic (blood) toxicities, the simultaneous use of ganciclovir and zidovudine (AZT) is not recommended. More recently the drug foscarnet has become available for investigational use. Studies so far indicate that remission of CMV retinitis occurs in 36 to 77 percent of patients, and that relapse occurs in virtually all patients when the drug is discontinued. The relative effectiveness of foscarnet compared with ganciclovir for the immediate control of CMV infections is unknown. Further, the long-term effects of foscarnet or ganciclovir on CMV retinitis, survival, and morbidity are unknown. There is also no definitive information on the relative effectiveness and safety of deferred versus immediate treatment for CMV retinitis confined to zones 2 and 3.

Official title: Studies of the Ocular Complications of AIDS (SOCA) CMV Retinitis Trial: Foscarnet-Ganciclovir Component

Study design: Primary Purpose: Treatment

Detailed description: CMV retinitis is a common opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS. Ganciclovir is currently the only drug approved for treatment of CMV retinitis in immunocompromised patients. Ganciclovir suppresses CMV infections, and relapse occurs in virtually all AIDS patients when ganciclovir is discontinued. Because of their similar hematologic (blood) toxicities, the simultaneous use of ganciclovir and zidovudine (AZT) is not recommended. More recently the drug foscarnet has become available for investigational use. Studies so far indicate that remission of CMV retinitis occurs in 36 to 77 percent of patients, and that relapse occurs in virtually all patients when the drug is discontinued. The relative effectiveness of foscarnet compared with ganciclovir for the immediate control of CMV infections is unknown. Further, the long-term effects of foscarnet or ganciclovir on CMV retinitis, survival, and morbidity are unknown. There is also no definitive information on the relative effectiveness and safety of deferred versus immediate treatment for CMV retinitis confined to zones 2 and 3. Patients are assigned to one of two groups: (1) Patients with any retinitis in zone 1 or patients with retinitis involving 25 percent or more of zones 2 and 3; and (2) Patients in whom retinitis is confined to less than 25 percent of zones 2 and 3 of the retina. Half the patients in group 1 get immediate treatment with ganciclovir; the other half receive immediate treatment with foscarnet. Patients in group 2 are treated with foscarnet or ganciclovir either immediately or treatment is deferred. If patients in group 2 have strong preferences regarding when therapy is instituted, they may elect immediate treatment or deferral of treatment.

Minimum age: 13 Years. Maximum age: N/A. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Allowed:

- Topical anti-Herpesvirus agents.

- Zidovudine (AZT) for patients in deferral or foscarnet treatment groups:

- 100 mg every 4 hours. For patients on ganciclovir:

- 100 mg every 8 hours.

- Dideoxyinosine (ddI) and other antiretroviral available via expanded access programs,

investigational triazoles, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and erythropoietin to treat marrow toxicity. The use of other investigational drugs will be considered on a drug by drug basis.

- It is not recommended that patients receiving ganciclovir take AZT simultaneously. If

AZT is prescribed for patients taking ganciclovir, it should be prescribed at reduced doses and discontinued if hematologic toxicity develops. Patients must have:

- Diagnosis of AIDS by CDC criteria or a documented HIV infection.

- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis that does not require surgical intervention diagnosed

in one or both eyes by a SOCA-certified ophthalmologist.

- The means available for compliance with follow-up visits (including a caregiver if

necessary).

- Must consent to study or consent of parent or guardian if less than 18 years of age.

- Willingness to take reduced dose of zidovudine (AZT) if dictated by treatment

assignment.

- Willingness to discontinue other systemic treatments for Herpesvirus infections while

receiving foscarnet or ganciclovir. Prior Medication: Allowed:

- Zidovudine (AZT).

Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following conditions or symptoms are excluded:

- Sufficient media opacities to preclude fundus photographs in both eyes.

Concurrent Medication: Excluded:

- Other systemic treatments for Herpesvirus infections.

- Other anti-cytomegalovirus therapy.

- Excluded with foscarnet:

- Parenteral pentamidine, amphotericin B, or aminoglycosides.

- Use of marrow toxic agents with ganciclovir and nephrotoxic agents with foscarnet is

discouraged, and alternative treatment should be used whenever possible. Patients with the following are excluded:

- Sufficient media opacities to preclude fundus photographs in both eyes.

- Known or suspected allergy to one of the study medications.

Prior Medication: Excluded:

- Foscarnet or ganciclovir used previously to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis.

- Excluded within 14 days of study entry:

- CMV hyperimmunoglobulin or other anti-CMV agents.

- Excluded within the past 28 days:

- Anti-CMV therapy.

Active intravenous drug or alcohol abuse, sufficient in the investigator's opinion to prevent adequate compliance with study therapy and follow-up.

UCSD - Shiley Eye Ctr / SOCA, La Jolla, California 920930946, United States

UCLA - Jules Stein Eye Institute / SOCA, Los Angeles, California 900957003, United States

UCSF - San Francisco Gen Hosp, San Francisco, California 94143, United States

Northwestern Univ / SOCA, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States

Charity Hosp / Tulane Univ Med School, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States

Johns Hopkins Hosp / SOCA, Baltimore, Maryland 212879217, United States

Mount Sinai Med Ctr / SOCA, New York, New York 100296574, United States

New York Hosp - Cornell Med Ctr / Sloan - Kettering / SOCA, New York, New York 10021, United States

New York Univ Med Ctr / SOCA, New York, New York 10016, United States

Related publications:

Studies of ocular complications of AIDS Foscarnet-Ganciclovir Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Trial: 1. Rationale, design, and methods. AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). Control Clin Trials. 1992 Feb;13(1):22-39.

Mortality in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treated with either foscarnet or ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus retinitis. Studies of Ocular Complications of AIDS Research Group, in collaboration with the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. N Engl J Med. 1992 Jan 23;326(4):213-20. Erratum in: N Engl J Med 1992 Apr 23;326(17):1172.

Holbrook JT, Jabs DA, Weinberg DV, Lewis RA, Davis MD, Friedberg D; Studies of Ocular Complications of AIDS (SOCA) Research Group. Visual loss in patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome before widespread availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003 Jan;121(1):99-107.

Last updated: March 11, 2011