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An Open Trial of Zidovudine (AZT) Treatment of the AIDS Dementia Complex in Patients With AIDS or Low CD4+ Lymphocyte Counts

Information source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.

Condition(s) targeted: AIDS Dementia Complex; HIV Infections

Intervention: Zidovudine (Drug)

Phase: Phase 3

Status: Completed

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

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
RW Price, Study Chair

Summary

To provide accurate and complete neurologic assessment of the course of the AIDS dementia complex in patients treated with zidovudine (AZT). The study will determine how frequently patients improve, how long improvement is sustained, and the magnitude and functional significance of improvement. Individuals with AIDS frequently suffer central nervous system (CNS) problems that are characterized by cognitive, motor, and behavioral deficits, in a disorder known as AIDS dementia complex. Clinical experience suggests that its course is often progressive, going from initial symptoms to moderate or severe dementia within several months. Accumulating evidence now suggests that direct brain infection by the HIV virus is the likely cause of the AIDS dementia complex. Case reports suggest that therapy with AZT, which has been shown to be a strong inhibitor of HIV replication in vitro, may alleviate the AIDS dementia complex. This study will help define the natural history of the AIDS dementia complex in treated patients.

Clinical Details

Official title: An Open Trial of Zidovudine (AZT) Treatment of the AIDS Dementia Complex in Patients With AIDS or Low CD4+ Lymphocyte Counts

Study design: Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Detailed description: Individuals with AIDS frequently suffer central nervous system (CNS) problems that are characterized by cognitive, motor, and behavioral deficits, in a disorder known as AIDS dementia complex. Clinical experience suggests that its course is often progressive, going from initial symptoms to moderate or severe dementia within several months. Accumulating evidence now suggests that direct brain infection by the HIV virus is the likely cause of the AIDS dementia complex. Case reports suggest that therapy with AZT, which has been shown to be a strong inhibitor of HIV replication in vitro, may alleviate the AIDS dementia complex. This study will help define the natural history of the AIDS dementia complex in treated patients. All patients receive AZT for 24 weeks. Patients are seen weekly for the first 4 weeks, every other week for the next 8 weeks, and then every 4 weeks until the completion of the study for neuropsychological evaluation. This evaluation includes lumbar puncture, and either computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.

Eligibility

Minimum age: 12 Years. Maximum age: N/A. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Allowed:

- Prophylactic therapy for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP); aerosol pentamidine is

the preferred method.

- Maintenance anticonvulsant therapy following a seizure in the context of the AIDS

dementia complex.

- Patients taking anticonvulsants should have their anticonvulsant blood levels

measured prior to starting zidovudine (AZT) or with changes in AZT dosage.

- Phenytoin, carbamazepine, and valproic acid.

- Judicious use of benzodiazepams.

- For analgesia or fever, modest doses of aspirin, Tylenol, or ibuprofen.

- Use of major mood or central nervous system altering drugs is discouraged and should

be documented. Patients with the following are included:

- An estimated pre-illness IQ = or > 70.

- A general neurodiagnostic evaluation before entry which will include a computerized

tomographic (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and a lumbar puncture.

- Stable or indolently progressive mucocutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma with < 25 lesions and

onset of < 10 new lesions during the 30-day period prior to study entry.

- Chronic seizure disorders requiring anticonvulsant therapy as long as the seizures

are not associated with a fixed neurologic deficit.

- A blood HIV culture and p24 antigen capture assay at the time of the lumbar

puncture. A second p24 antigen assay on study entry. Informed consent form must be signed by the patient, legal guardian, or parent. Active substance abuse that would limit a patient's cooperation or evaluation. Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following will be excluded from the study:

- Active, symptomatic AIDS-associated opportunistic infections requiring ongoing

maintenance therapy.

- Persistent fever, active persistent diarrhea, or continued severe weight loss.

- Severe premorbid psychiatric illness.

- Confounding neurologic disease or deficit.

- Concurrent or previous central nervous system infections or neoplasms.

- Concurrent active neoplasms other than basal cell carcinoma of the skin and

mucocutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma. Concurrent Medication: Excluded:

- Major psychotropic medication including tricyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitors,

phenothiazines, butyrophenones, barbiturates, or amphetamines.

- Cimetidine.

- Ranitidine.

- Probenecid.

- Indomethacin.

- Acyclovir (ACV) prophylaxis for recurrent Herpes simplex.

Patients with the following will be excluded from the study:

- Active, symptomatic AIDS-associated opportunistic infections requiring ongoing

maintenance therapy.

- Persistent fever, active persistent diarrhea, or continued severe weight loss.

- Severe premorbid psychiatric illness.

- Confounding neurologic disease or deficit.

- Concurrent or previous central nervous system infections or neoplasms.

- Concurrent active neoplasms other than basal cell carcinoma of the skin and

mucocutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma. Prior Medication: Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry or for greater than 2 weeks of therapy:

- Zidovudine (AZT).

- Patients must not have previously exhibited toxic reaction to AZT.

- Excluded within 30 days of study entry:

- Immunomodulators and biologic response modifiers, including systemic steroids.

- Any investigational agent.

- Cytotoxic chemotherapy for Kaposi's sarcoma.

Prior Treatment: Excluded within 30 days of study entry:

- Radiation therapy.

- Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry:

- Blood transfusion.

Locations and Contacts

UCLA CARE Ctr, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States

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

Louisiana State Univ Med Ctr / Tulane Med School, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States

Tulane Univ School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States

Johns Hopkins Hosp, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States

Bellevue Hosp / New York Univ Med Ctr, New York, New York 10016, United States

Mem Sloan - Kettering Cancer Ctr, New York, New York 10021, United States

Univ of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, United States

Univ of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 275997215, United States

Univ Hosp of Cleveland / Case Western Reserve Univ, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States

Julio Arroyo, West Columbia, South Carolina 29169, United States

Univ of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, United States

Additional Information

Click here for more information about Zidovudine


Last updated: March 15, 2012

Page last updated: August 23, 2015

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