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A Multicenter Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Trial to Evaluate Azidothymidine (AZT) Treatment of the AIDS Dementia Complex and Central Nervous System (CNS) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
HIV Infections
AIDS Dementia Complex
Registration Number
NCT00000702
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

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.

The study is done in 2 stages. In Stage 1, patients are randomized to receive placebo or 1 of 2 doses of AZT. Stage 1 lasts for 4 months. In Stage 2, patients who were initially treated with placebo are randomized again and all patients receive AZT. Stage 2 lasts an additional 12 months, during which time there are periodic medical and neurologic evaluations. Before beginning treatment, all patients have a lumbar puncture and a computerized tomographic (CT) scan of the brain. The lumbar puncture is repeated twice during and once at the end of Stage 1; the CT scan is also repeated at the end of Stage 1. Patients receiving AZT in either stage 1 or Stage 2 are seen by their physicians every week for the first 4 weeks and every other week thereafter for the first 4 months of receiving the drug. After 4 months, patients are seen by their physicians at 4 to 12 week intervals.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
315
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (21)

Louisiana State Univ Med Ctr / Tulane Med School

🇺🇸

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Charity Hosp / Tulane Univ Med School

🇺🇸

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Julio Arroyo

🇺🇸

West Columbia, South Carolina, United States

Johns Hopkins Hosp

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Harvard (Massachusetts Gen Hosp)

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Tulane Univ School of Medicine

🇺🇸

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Univ of Miami School of Medicine

🇺🇸

Miami, Florida, United States

Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Univ of California / San Diego Treatment Ctr

🇺🇸

San Diego, California, United States

Stanford Univ School of Medicine

🇺🇸

Stanford, California, United States

UCLA CARE Ctr

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Bronx Municipal Hosp Ctr/Jacobi Med Ctr

🇺🇸

Bronx, New York, United States

SUNY / Erie County Med Ctr at Buffalo

🇺🇸

Buffalo, New York, United States

Beth Israel Med Ctr / Peter Krueger Clinic

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Jack Weiler Hosp / Bronx Municipal Hosp

🇺🇸

Bronx, New York, United States

Bellevue Hosp / New York Univ Med Ctr

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

City Hosp Ctr at Elmhurst / Mount Sinai Hosp

🇺🇸

Elmhurst, New York, United States

Mem Sloan - Kettering Cancer Ctr

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Mount Sinai Med Ctr

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Univ of Rochester Medical Center

🇺🇸

Rochester, New York, United States

Univ of Washington

🇺🇸

Seattle, Washington, United States

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