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AIDS Clinical Trials Group

NonprofitBoston, Massachusetts, United States
About: AIDS Clinical Trials Group is a nonprofit organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Didanosine & Maintenance therapy. The organization has 90 authors who have published 66 publications receiving 4099 citations.


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: As compared with no antiretroviral therapy or monotherapy, combination therapy for HIV-1 infection in pregnant women is not associated with increased rates of premature delivery or with low birth weight, low Apgar scores, or stillbirth in their infants.
Abstract: Background Some studies suggest that combination antiretroviral therapy in pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection increases the risk of premature birth and other adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Methods We studied pregnant women with HIV-1 infection who were enrolled in seven clinical studies and delivered their infants from 1990 through 1998. The cohort comprised 2123 women who received antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy (monotherapy in 1590, combination therapy without protease inhibitors in 396, and combination therapy with protease inhibitors in 137) and 1143 women who did not receive antiretroviral therapy. Results After standardization for the CD4+ cell count and use or nonuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, the rate of premature delivery (<37 weeks of gestation) was similar among the women who received antiretroviral therapy and those who did not (16 percent and 17 percent, respectively); the rate of low birth weight (<2500 g) was 16 percent among the i...

377 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The suppression of plasma HIV RNA after six months of treatment with indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine is better sustained by the continuation of these three drugs than by maintenance therapy with either indinavIR alone or zidovo-resistance mutations in HIV RNA at base line.
Abstract: Background Combination antiretroviral therapy with indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine can suppress the level of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA in plasma below the threshold of detection for two years or more. We investigated whether a less intensive maintenance regimen could sustain viral suppression after an initial response to combination therapy. Methods HIV-infected subjects who had CD4 cell counts greater than 200 per cubic millimeter, who had been treated with indinavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine, and who had less than 200 copies of HIV RNA per milliliter of plasma after 16, 20, and 24 weeks of induction therapy were randomly assigned to receive either continued triple-drug therapy (106 subjects), indinavir alone (103 subjects), or a combination of zidovudine and lamivudine (107 subjects). The primary end point was loss of viral suppression, which was defined as a plasma level of at least 200 copies of HIV RNA per milliliter on two consecutive measurements during maintenance therapy. Res...

318 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Fluconazole taken by mouth is superior to weekly intravenous therapy with amphotericin B to prevent relapse in patients with AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis after primary treatment with amph esotericin B.
Abstract: Background. After primary treatment for cryptococcal meningitis, patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) require some form of continued suppressive therapy to prevent relapse. Methods. We conducted a multicenter, randomized trial that compared fluconazole (200 mg per day given orally) with amphotericin B (1 mg per kilogram of body weight per week given intravenously) in patients with AIDS who had completed primary therapy for cryptococcal meningitis with amphotericin B (≥15 mg per kilogram). To be eligible, patients had to have at least two negative cultures of cerebrospinal fluid immediately before randomization. The primary end point was relapse of cryptococcal disease as confirmed by biopsy or culture. Results. Of 218 patients initially enrolled, 119 were assigned to fluconazole and 99 to amphotericin B. Twenty-three patients were found not to have met the entry criteria; six other patients assigned to amphotericin B did not receive it and were lost to follow-up. Of the rem...

313 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The robustness of the longitudinal measurement of IENF density supports its use in future longitudinal studies and clinical trials, and is associated with increased neuropathic pain, lower CD4 counts, and higher plasma viral load in HIV-SN.
Abstract: Objective: To explore the relationship between intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density in HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) to measurements of neuropathy severity and progression of HIV disease. Background: SN affects 30% of individuals with AIDS, and treatment is often ineffective. Recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) has been proposed as a trophic factor for unmyelinated nerve fibers injured in HIV-SN, and a clinical trial has recently concluded. Skin biopsy with IENF density determination has emerged as a diagnostic test for patients with small-fiber sensory neuropathy. Methods: Sixty-two of the 270 patients with HIV-SN who participated in the trial of rhNGF were included in a substudy examining epidermal nerve fibers. IENF density was compared with neuropathic pain intensity (measured with the Gracely Pain Scale), patient and physician global pain assessments, quantitative sensory testing, CD4 counts, and plasma HIV RNA levels both at baseline and at conclusion of the placebo-controlled phase. Results: IENF density was inversely correlated with neuropathic pain as measured by patient (p = 0.004) and physician (p = 0.05) global pain assessments, but not using the Gracely Pain Scale. Decreased IENF density at the distal leg was associated with lower CD4 counts and higher plasma HIV RNA levels. IENF density measurements were stable over time. Conclusions: IENF loss at the distal leg is associated with increased neuropathic pain, lower CD4 counts, and higher plasma viral load in HIV-SN. The robustness of the longitudinal measurement of IENF density supports its use in future longitudinal studies and clinical trials.

279 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A positive effect of recombinant human nerve growth factor on neuropathic pain and pin sensitivity in HIV-associated sensory neuropathy was found and rhNGF was safe and well tolerated, but injection site pain was frequent.
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) in HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (SN) within a multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized trial (ACTG 291). Background: SN affects 30% of individuals with AIDS, is worsened by neurotoxic antiretrovirals, and its treatment is often ineffective. NGF is trophic for small sensory neurons and stimulates the regeneration of damaged nerve fibers. Methods: A total of 270 patients with HIV-associated SN were randomized to receive placebo, 0.1 μg/kg rhNGF, or 0.3 μg/kg rhNGF by double-blinded subcutaneous injection twice weekly for 18 weeks. The primary outcome was change in self-reported neuropathic pain intensity (Gracely Pain Scale). Secondary outcomes included an assessment of global improvement in neuropathy by patients and investigators, neurologic examination, use of prescription analgesics, and quantitative sensory testing. In a subset, epidermal nerve fiber densities were determined in punch skin biopsies. Results: Both doses of NGF produced significant improvements in average and maximum daily pain compared with placebo. Positive treatment effects were also observed for global pain assessments ( p = 0.001) and for pin sensitivity ( p = 0.019). No treatment differences were found with respect to mood, analgesic use, or epidermal nerve fiber densities. Injection site pain was the most frequent adverse event, and resulted in unblinding in 39% of subjects. Severe transient myalgic pain occurred in eight patients, usually from accidental overdosing. There were no changes in HIV RNA levels or other laboratory indices. Conclusions: We found a positive effect of recombinant human nerve growth factor on neuropathic pain and pin sensitivity in HIV-associated sensory neuropathy. rhNGF was safe and well tolerated, but injection site pain was frequent.

252 citations


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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers from the Institution in previous years
YearPapers
20213
20204
20196
201710
20161
20145