The Effectiveness of HIV RNA Viral Load Testing in Determining Treatment Type in HIV-Infected Patients

It is hypothesized that among HIV-infected patients whose baseline CD4 count is in the range of 300 to 750 cells/mm3, those patients who incorporate initial and periodic viral RNA measurements in their therapeutic decisions will have higher CD4 counts after 48 weeks than patients whose therapeutic decisions do not incorporate initial and periodic viral RNA measurements.

Approximately 540 patients are stratified on the basis of baseline CD4 counts and are randomized to one of two treatment groups: 1. viral RNA treatment group or 2. non viral RNA treatment group. Treatment modification is based upon CD4 count, viral RNA levels (group 1 only) and clinical evaluation. Patients receive one of the three antiretroviral treatments:

1. No antiretroviral therapy.
2. Double reverse transcriptase inhibitor (RTI) therapy consisting of any two therapy combinations of: didanosine (ddI), lamivudine (3TC), stavudine (d4T) or zidovudine (ZDV), based upon the treating physician's judgment. The preferred combinations are ZDV + 3TC, d4T + 3TC or ddI + d4T.
3. Triple antiretroviral therapy consisting of double antiretroviral therapy plus indinavir.

Treatment decisions are based upon a standardized algorithm as follows:

CD4 count 500-750 + viral RNA < 10,000:

Group 1: No retroviral therapy. Group 2: No retroviral therapy.

CD4 count 500-750 + viral RNA >= 10,000:

Group 1: Triple therapy. Group 2: No retroviral therapy.

CD4 count 300-499 + viral RNA < 10,000:

Group 1: Double retroviral therapy. Group 2: Double retroviral therapy.

CD4 count 300-499 + viral RNA >= 10,000:

Group 1: Triple therapy. Group 2: Double retroviral therapy.

CD4 count 200-299 + viral RNA < 10,000:

Group 1: Maintain same retroviral therapy unless: there is a CD4 count decrease of 25-49% within 24 weeks of the count falling in the range of 300-499 in which case both retroviral therapies are changed, there is a CD4 count decrease of >= 50% within the 48 weeks of therapy from the time the CD4 count fell within the range of 300-499 in which case triple therapy is initiated, or there is an AIDS-defining illness in which case triple therapy is initiated.

Group 2: Same as Group 1.

CD4 count 200-299 + viral RNA >= 10,000:

Group 1: Triple therapy. Group 2: Maintain same retroviral therapy unless: there is a CD4 count decrease of 25-49% within 24 weeks of the count falling in the range of 300-499 in which case both retroviral therapies are changed, there is a CD4 count decrease of >= 50% within the 48 weeks of therapy from the time the CD4 count fell within the range of 300-499 in which case triple therapy is initiated, or there is an AIDS-defining illness in which case triple therapy is initiated.

CD4 count < 200:

Group 1: Triple therapy. Group 2: Triple therapy.