Trial Outcomes & Findings for Advanced Neuroimaging Evaluation of the Central Nervous System Biological Changes Associated With Efavirenz Therapy and Switch to an Elvitegravir-based Regimen (NCT NCT01929759)

NCT ID: NCT01929759

Last Updated: 2017-07-28

Results Overview

Assess the change in levels of neuro-metabolites measured by MRS from week 0 (before switching to the efavirenz-based therapy) and then at week 8 (after completing 9 weeks of integrase-inhibitor based regimen with Stribild). Two areas of the brain: 1) posterior cingulate gyrus and 2) anterior cingulate will be assessed for the levels of brain Cr, GABA and GLU.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

10 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

week 0 to week 8

Results posted on

2017-07-28

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Drug Switching
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Overall Study
STARTED
10
Overall Study
COMPLETED
10
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Advanced Neuroimaging Evaluation of the Central Nervous System Biological Changes Associated With Efavirenz Therapy and Switch to an Elvitegravir-based Regimen

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Drug Switching
n=10 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
10 participants
n=5 Participants
Baseline measures for Neurometabolites Based on MRS
Posterior cingulate creatine
19.09 arbitrary units
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.27 • n=5 Participants
Baseline measures for Neurometabolites Based on MRS
Posterior cingulate glutamate
25.36 arbitrary units
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.73 • n=5 Participants
Baseline measures for Neurometabolites Based on MRS
Posterior cingulate GABA
4.99 arbitrary units
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.29 • n=5 Participants
Baseline measures for Neurometabolites Based on MRS
Anterior cingulate creatine
14.06 arbitrary units
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.44 • n=5 Participants
Baseline measures for Neurometabolites Based on MRS
Anterior cingulate glutamate
19.16 arbitrary units
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.11 • n=5 Participants
Baseline measures for Neurometabolites Based on MRS
Anterior cingulate GABA
4.21 arbitrary units
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.18 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: week 0 to week 8

Population: The arbitrary units are expressed as the output from MRS software. While similar to concentration (mM) due to assumptions in the software, it is best expressed as arbitrary units for comparison from week 0 to week 8.

Assess the change in levels of neuro-metabolites measured by MRS from week 0 (before switching to the efavirenz-based therapy) and then at week 8 (after completing 9 weeks of integrase-inhibitor based regimen with Stribild). Two areas of the brain: 1) posterior cingulate gyrus and 2) anterior cingulate will be assessed for the levels of brain Cr, GABA and GLU.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Drug Switching
n=10 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Change in Neurometabolites Based on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Posterior Cingulate Creatine
19.61 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 3.44
Change in Neurometabolites Based on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Posterior Cingulate Glutamate
24.54 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 3.69
Change in Neurometabolites Based on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Posterior Cingulate GABA
6.71 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 1.07
Change in Neurometabolites Based on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Anterior Cingulate Creatine
12.08 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 4.63
Change in Neurometabolites Based on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Anterior Cingulate Glutamate
16.16 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 6.00
Change in Neurometabolites Based on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Anterior Cingulate GABA
3.67 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 1.52

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: week 0 and week 8

Population: 8 of 10 enrolled patients passed QA testing to be included in the final analyses. The 3 linear contrasts of Pre-switch/Post-switch/Pre- vs. Post-switch: \[Neg vs.Neu\] x \[No-Go vs. Go\] are reported as z-score (standardized effect size measures with SD=1). Z-score is obtained for each subject, group Z-score is obtained via a mixed-effects model.

Assess changes in neural activation correlated with affective disturbances associated with efavirenz-based therapy using fMRI employing an Emotional Word/Go-NoGo task paradigm that probes affective symptomatologies typical with EFV use, specifically anxiety/dysphoria and affective dysregulation and their association with changes in cognitive function. Four brain regions of interests (ROIs) are specified to show the differential frontal-limbic activation patterns in the task-evoked neural responses to the 3 linear contrasts of Pre-switch / Post-switch / Pre- vs. Post-switch: \[Negative Word vs. Neutral Word\] x \[No-Go Trial Block vs. Go Trial Block\]: anterior Frontal Pole (aFP), posterior Cingulate Gyrus (pCG), dorsal anterior Cingulate Gyrus (daCG), Left Hippocampus (LHC). A linear mixed-effects model is utilized to examine the effect sizes of the key Regimen/Condition contrasts, with the Subject factor as the random-effect and Age incorporated as a co-variate of no interest.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Drug Switching
n=8 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
PreVsPostXNegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: aFP
3.42 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
PreVsPostXNegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: pCG
3.90 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
PreVsPostXNegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: daCG
-2.76 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
PreVsPostXNegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo:LHC
-2.96 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Pre: NegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: aFP
3.39 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Pre: NegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo:pCG
3.61 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Pre: NegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: daCG
-3.15 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Pre: NegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: LHC
-2.27 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Post: NegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: aFP
-3.17 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Post: NegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: pCG
-2.66 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Post: NegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: daCG
3.69 z-score
Neural Activation Networks Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Post: NegVsNeuXNoGoVsGo: LHC
3.47 z-score

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: week 0 to week 8

Population: The arbitrary units are expressed as the output from MRS software. While similar to concentration (mM) due to assumptions in the software, it is best expressed as arbitrary units for comparison from week 0 to week 8.

Use MRS to evaluate a fuller panel of known neurometabolites (in addition to the primary endpoints) between week 0 and week 8 to identify prominent and significant changes associated with EFV use.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Drug Switching
n=10 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Change in Other Neurometabolite Measured by MRS Between Week 0 and Week 8
Posterior cingulate glutathione
5.06 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 1.17
Change in Other Neurometabolite Measured by MRS Between Week 0 and Week 8
Posterior cingulate aspartate
3.69 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 0.98
Change in Other Neurometabolite Measured by MRS Between Week 0 and Week 8
Anterior cingulate glutathione
3.17 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 1.34
Change in Other Neurometabolite Measured by MRS Between Week 0 and Week 8
Anterior cingulate aspartate
2.57 arbitrary units
Standard Deviation 1.29

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: week 0 and week 8

Population: Several Indexes were used to access neurocognitive changes: WAIS, HAMD, FRSBE, DASS-21, STAI. Participants were given these tests prior to and after drug switch.

Assess for changes in cognitive and affective function prior to and after switching off EFV-based regimen. Indexes used to access neurocognitive changes included: 1. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R) Digital Symbol Substitution Test: sensitive to brain damage, dementia, age and depressive changes. Range of 0-100, the higher the score the better the person's performance 2. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD): Measure of depression. Score of 0-7 is normal, score of \>20 is moderate/severe depression 3. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) the lower the score, the less severe depression, anxiety and stress. Scale range of 0-63 4. Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FRSBE): Increased score indicates greater behavioral impairment associated with frontal systems, range 37.2 to 186 6\. Spielberger state trait anxiety inventory (STAI): the higher the score the greater then anxiety level, range of 20 to 80.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Drug Switching
n=10 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Neurocognitive Changes
pre-switch WAIS
49.3 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.62
Neurocognitive Changes
post-switch WAIS
53.4 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.60
Neurocognitive Changes
pre-switch FRSBE
77.5 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.01
Neurocognitive Changes
post-switch FRSBE
70.4 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.00
Neurocognitive Changes
pre-switch HAMD
5.5 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.41
Neurocognitive Changes
post-switch HAMD
2.8 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.20
Neurocognitive Changes
pre-switch DASS depression
7.6 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.58
Neurocognitive Changes
post-switch DASS depression
3.4 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.72
Neurocognitive Changes
pre-swtich STAI
28.8 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.87
Neurocognitive Changes
post-switch STAI
24.2 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.19

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 8 weeks

Population: Change in fasting lipid profile was measured: total cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels.

Measure the change in fasting lipid panel prior to and after switching off EFV-based regimen.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Drug Switching
n=10 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Fasting Lipid Profile
pre-switch Total cholesterol
178.8 mg/dl
Standard Deviation 24.24
Fasting Lipid Profile
post-switch Total cholesterol
168.5 mg/dl
Standard Deviation 20.84
Fasting Lipid Profile
pre-switch HDL
52.6 mg/dl
Standard Deviation 16.49
Fasting Lipid Profile
post-switch HDL
52.3 mg/dl
Standard Deviation 19.42
Fasting Lipid Profile
pre-switch LDL
106.1 mg/dl
Standard Deviation 22.96
Fasting Lipid Profile
post-switch LDL
97.4 mg/dl
Standard Deviation 19.36
Fasting Lipid Profile
pre-switch triglyceride
101.3 mg/dl
Standard Deviation 50.39
Fasting Lipid Profile
post-switch triglyceride
94.5 mg/dl
Standard Deviation 30.50

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: week 0 and week 8

Assess for changes in sleep pattern and quality prior to and after switching off EFV-based regimen through a self-administered Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Measure consists of 19 items with each weighted on 0-3 scale and the sum produces a total score, which ranges from 0-21. The lower the score the healthier the sleep quality; minimum Score = 0 (better); maximum Score = 21 (worse).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Drug Switching
n=10 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Sleep Quality
pre-switch PSQI index
4.8 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.30
Sleep Quality
post-switch PSQI index
3.1 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.66

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: week 0 and week 8

Population: Patients were surveyed at the end of the study with a single question regarding their ART preference. They are asked to pick one of the 3 answers: 1. prefer Atripla, 2. prefer the new drug (Stribild) or 3. no preference. The number of patients who would like to switch to study drug, Stribild, are indicated by the percentage.

Evaluate patient preference in ART regimen (Atripla, EFV/FTC/TDF versus EVG/COBI/FTC/TDF) through a self-administered questionnaire.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Drug Switching
n=10 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
ART Regimen Preference
Prefers Stribld
9 Participants
ART Regimen Preference
Prefers Atripla
0 Participants
ART Regimen Preference
No preference
1 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: week 0 and week 8

Population: Inflammatory markers were measured pre- and post-drug switch from Atripla to Stibild.

Change in markers of immune activation and inflammation associated with change to Stibild: sCD14, IP-10,sCD163, IL-6)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Drug Switching
n=10 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Markers of Immune Activation
pre-switch sCD14
3329000 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 566684
Markers of Immune Activation
post-switch sCD14
2879000 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 867793
Markers of Immune Activation
pre-switch IP-10
237.3 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 204.8
Markers of Immune Activation
post-switch IP-10
224.2 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 201
Markers of Immune Activation
pre-switch sCD163
732000 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 559000
Markers of Immune Activation
post-switch sCD163
599500 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 319200
Markers of Immune Activation
pre-switch MCP-1
102.2 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 68
Markers of Immune Activation
post-switch MCP-1
91.39 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 43.02
Markers of Immune Activation
pre-switch IL-6
1.255 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 0.5921
Markers of Immune Activation
post-switch IL-6
1.301 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 0.7115
Markers of Immune Activation
pre-switch TNFR1
833.2 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 222.1
Markers of Immune Activation
post-switch TNFR1
878.1 pg/ML
Standard Deviation 198.8

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: week 0 and week 8

Level of EFV (efavirenz) in Atripla and its two known metabolites known to cause cerebral side effects, 7-hydroxy (OH) EFV and 8-OH EFV, were measured in the plasma prior to switch off Atripla and after 8 weeks of RAL-based regimen (no EFV).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Drug Switching
n=10 Participants
Single-arm with switch from baseline antiretroviral therapy with Atripla to Stribild for total of 8 weeks. Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir): Switch from Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir) to Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir)for total of 8 weeks
Effect of EFV and Its Metabolites
Number with detectable 7-OH and 8-OH (pre-switch)
10 participants
Effect of EFV and Its Metabolites
Number with detectable 7-OH and 8-OH (post-switch)
0 participants

Adverse Events

Drug Switching

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Nina Lin

Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine

Phone: 617-414-5242

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place