The Effects of Prednisone on HIV Levels and the Immune System

NCT ID: NCT00000921

Last Updated: 2011-02-23

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

118 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

1996-08-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to see if it is safe and effective to give prednisone to HIV-infected patients.

Prednisone is a corticosteroid, a hormone produced by the body that inhibits immune cell responses. Prednisone may be able to lower the level of HIV in the body (viral load) by reducing the number of cells that HIV can infect. At the same time, prednisone may be able to increase CD4 cell counts (cells of the immune system that fight infection).

Detailed Description

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By inhibiting cellular activation, corticosteroids such as prednisone may inhibit HIV expression and reduce the population of potentially infectable cells. Furthermore, no studies have been performed to systematically evaluate immune function in prednisone-treated, HIV-infected patients or the immune mechanisms that may facilitate increases in CD4+ cell number. This study explores this issue.

Patients are separated into 2 arms according to whether or not they are currently receiving a protease inhibitor (PI) as part of their antiretroviral (ARV) therapy regimen (PI vs no PI therapy). Arm I: Current stable ARV therapy plus prednisone for 8 weeks, followed by 4 weeks at half the prior dose, then a 2-week taper. Arm II: Current stable ARV therapy plus prednisone placebo for 12 weeks.

Conditions

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HIV Infections

Study Design

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Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Interventions

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Prednisone

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for this study if you:

* Are HIV-positive.
* Have a CD4 cell count of 200-600 cells/mm3 within 30 days of study entry. (This study has been changed. You now must have a CD4 cell count of 200-700 cells/mm3 within 45 days of study entry.)
* Have had your viral load measured within 30 days of study entry.
* Have been on stable anti-HIV therapy with at least two anti-HIV agents for at least 12 weeks, and you intend to remain on this therapy during the study.
* Are at least 18 years of age.
* Agree to abstain from sex or use effective methods of birth control during the study and for 30 days after.

Exclusion Criteria

You will not be eligible for this study if you:

* Abuse alcohol or drugs or have a serious psychological condition.
* Are allergic to prednisone or other corticosteroids.
* Have a history of opportunistic (AIDS-related) infections, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), or Kaposi's sarcoma (KS).
* Have a history of a serious medical condition, including heart problems, tuberculosis (TB), cancer, diabetes, or osteoporosis.
* Are being treated for herpes at study entry.
* Have received certain medications, including blood pressure medication.
* Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

NIH

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

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Wallis R

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Jacobson J

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Kalayjian R

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Locations

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Univ of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Site Status

Univ of Southern California / LA County USC Med Ctr

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status

Queens Med Ctr

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Site Status

Univ of Hawaii / Leahi Hosp

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Site Status

Univ of Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Site Status

Northwestern Univ Med School

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Cook County Hosp

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Rush Presbyterian - Saint Luke's Med Ctr

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Indiana Univ Hosp

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Site Status

Harvard (Massachusetts Gen Hosp)

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Univ of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Bellevue Hosp / New York Univ Med Ctr

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

Mount Sinai Med Ctr

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

Case Western Reserve Univ

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status

MetroHealth Med Ctr

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Ohio State Univ Hosp Clinic

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Milton S Hershey Med Ctr

Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Univ of Washington

Seattle, Washington, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Wallis RS, Kalayjian R, Jacobson JM, Fox L, Purdue L, Shikuma CM, Arakaki R, Snyder S, Coombs RW, Bosch RJ, Spritzler J, Chernoff M, Aga E, Myers L, Schock B, Lederman MM. A study of the immunology, virology, and safety of prednisone in HIV-1-infected subjects with CD4 cell counts of 200 to 700 mm(-3). J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2003 Mar 1;32(3):281-6. doi: 10.1097/00126334-200303010-00006.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12626887 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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ACTG 349

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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