Suppression of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Utilizing High Dose Intravenous Acyclovir and Oral Zidovudine in Patients With AIDS
Information source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on June 20, 2008
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Cytomegalovirus Retinitis; HIV Infections
Intervention: Zidovudine (Drug); Acyclovir (Drug)
Phase: N/A
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
HA Kessler, Study Chair
CA Benson, Study Chair
Summary
To study the use of acyclovir (ACV) and zidovudine (AZT) in the treatment of cytomegalovirus
(CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS who would otherwise be treated with ganciclovir (DHPG)
alone.
CMV retinitis is one of the most common opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS. DHPG
is at present the only drug available for widespread compassionate use in the United States.
Although most patients respond to treatment with DHPG, the medication does not cure the
infection. Most patients will have a relapse and will require retreatment with DHPG. Because
of the large relapse rate, most people treated for CMV retinitis are placed on continuous
treatment with DHPG. There are two major problems associated with ongoing use of DHPG: 1) The
development of a low white blood cell (WBC) count (leukopenia) which is a known side effect
of the drug; and 2) the increased risk for leukopenia when DHPG is given together with AZT,
the only antiviral drug currently available for the treatment of HIV infection. Therefore,
patients cannot take both AZT and DHPG at the same time because the bone marrow toxicity is
made much more severe when the drugs are given together. This has resulted in the difficult
decision as to whether to forgo potential life-extending therapy with AZT in order to
preserve sight. An effective treatment for CMV retinitis is needed that will allow the
patient to also take AZT. ACV is presently the drug of choice for severe herpes virus
infections. It has been shown to be effective in suppressing severe CMV disease in patients
who have received bone marrow transplants.
Clinical Details
Official title: Suppression of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Utilizing High Dose Intravenous Acyclovir and Oral Zidovudine in Patients With AIDS
Study design: Treatment, Open Label
Detailed description:
CMV retinitis is one of the most common opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS. DHPG
is at present the only drug available for widespread compassionate use in the United States.
Although most patients respond to treatment with DHPG, the medication does not cure the
infection. Most patients will have a relapse and will require retreatment with DHPG. Because
of the large relapse rate, most people treated for CMV retinitis are placed on continuous
treatment with DHPG. There are two major problems associated with ongoing use of DHPG: 1) The
development of a low white blood cell (WBC) count (leukopenia) which is a known side effect
of the drug; and 2) the increased risk for leukopenia when DHPG is given together with AZT,
the only antiviral drug currently available for the treatment of HIV infection. Therefore,
patients cannot take both AZT and DHPG at the same time because the bone marrow toxicity is
made much more severe when the drugs are given together. This has resulted in the difficult
decision as to whether to forgo potential life-extending therapy with AZT in order to
preserve sight. An effective treatment for CMV retinitis is needed that will allow the
patient to also take AZT. ACV is presently the drug of choice for severe herpes virus
infections. It has been shown to be effective in suppressing severe CMV disease in patients
who have received bone marrow transplants.
Patients receive ACV intravenously and AZT orally for 12 weeks. Tolerance of the combined
administration of ACV and AZT is monitored. AMENDED: AZT dose lowered and inclusion of
concurrent medication expanded.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 13 Years.
Maximum age: N/A.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria
Prior Medication:
Required:
- Patients must have successfully completed remission induction therapy with ganciclovir
(minimum of 14 days of therapy) for acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis within the
preceding 48 hours. Patients who show no evidence of progressive disease are
considered to have met criteria for successful induction.
Amended to allow:
- Investigational triazoles.
- Human recombinant erythropoietin (Eprex).
- Other investigational non-antiviral therapies offered through treatment IND.
Patients must:
- Have HIV infection as determined by a commercially licensed ELISA test confirmed by a
licensed Western blot
- Have salvageable vision (corrected acuity of 20/100 or better) in at least one eye.
- Be capable of signing an informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
Co-existing Condition:
Patients with the following are excluded:
- Known or suspected allergy to one of the study medications.
- Inability to maintain adequate hydration status.
Concurrent Medication:
Excluded:
- Concurrent therapy with nephrotoxic agents.
- Systemic therapy for another opportunistic infection.
- Systemic prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).
- Probenecid.
- Patients are advised that validity of this trial may be jeopardized by use of other
potentially antiviral or immunomodulating treatments.
Patients with the following are excluded:
- Known or suspected allergy to one of the study medications.
- Inability to maintain adequate hydration status.
Prior Medication:
Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry:
- Steroids.
- Cytotoxic or immunosuppressive drugs.
- Investigational agents. (Amended to now allow these.) Immunomodulatory drugs (except
ganciclovir).
Prior Treatment:
Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry:
- Radiotherapy.
Risk Behavior:
Excluded:
- History of unreliable drug intake and inability to cooperate in the testing
procedures. Unwilling or unable to give informed consent or unwilling to sign approved
consent form.
Locations and Contacts
Rush Presbyterian - Saint Luke's Med Ctr, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
Northwestern Univ Med School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
Additional Information
Click here for more information about Zidovudine Click here for more information about Acyclovir
Related publications: Sha BE, Benson CA, Deutsch TA, Urbanski PA, Phair JP, Kessler HA. Suppression of cytomegalovirus retinitis in persons with AIDS with high-dose intravenous acyclovir. J Infect Dis. 1991 Oct;164(4):777-80.
Last updated: June 23, 2005
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