Evaluating Responses to Antiretroviral Drugs in Cells and Tissues (The ERADICATE Study): Comprehensive Comparisons of Viral and Cellular Dynamics Among Previously-Untreated Subjects With Acute HIV Infection (Seroconversion Syndrome) or Recently Acquired HIV Infection Versus the Early, Middle, and Advanced Stages of Seropositive HIV Infection

Recent advancements in antiretroviral therapy have led to a better understanding of the natural history and immunopathogenesis of HIV-1 infection. To calculate the degree and duration of antiretroviral effect necessary to eliminate infection, characterization of residual cellular and tissue HIV reservoirs following high-level viral suppression is necessary. The ERADICATE study will evaluate the hypothesis that complete viral inhibition is possible, regardless of HIV disease stage, and leads to HIV eradication from tissues over time.

Patients are divided into 1 of 5 groups based on the stage of HIV infection. Patients receive oral stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC), indinavir (IDV), and nelfinavir (NFV) twice daily for 24 weeks. All patients undergo basic blood sampling to follow HIV-1 RNA levels and absolute T cell subset numbers daily for 5 days; then 3 times a week for 3 weeks; 2 times a week for 4 weeks; every 2 weeks for 12 weeks; and monthly thereafter for a total of 3 years. In addition, the following tissues are sampled at baseline and after 2 weeks and 6 months on therapy: 1) lymph node; 2) tonsillar; 3) perirectal lymphoid; 4) cerebrospinal fluid; 5) and semen.