Thalidomide to Treat Oral Lesions in HIV-Infected Patients

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001524
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: November 4, 1999
• Last Update Posted: March 4, 2008
• Sponsor: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
• Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This study will test the effectiveness of topical thalidomide in healing mouth sores in HIV infected patients. Oral (PO) thalidomide heals these sores at a dose of 200 mg per day. However, PO thalidomide can cause drowsiness, skin rashes, allergic reactions, increased viral load, and even nerve damage that may not be reversible. This study will evaluate the efficacy of a topical formulation of thalidomide (placed directly on the surface of the sore) for the healing of these sores.

Persons with HIV infection of acquired immunodeficiency of at least 18 years of age with one or more chronic, painful intraoral lesions may be eligible for this study. Subjects must be referred by a primary care physician who is managing their care, and must have HIV/AIDS status confirmed. Patients' HIV treatment regimen will not be altered and those receiving highly active therapy will not be excluded.

Patients will be excluded if they are concurrently being treated for mucosal lesions (including topical or systemic steroids, viscous lidocaine, topical or systemic anti-fungals, or mouthwashes), or concurrent thalidomide therapy; receving chemotherapy or radiation therapy for neoplasms; using concurrent acute therapy for opportunistic infections; concurrent use of sedatives (such as CNS depressants or alcohol use); history of allergy to thalidomide; pre-existing peripheral neuropathy of grade II or higher; pregnant or lactating females or those not practicing contraception according to FDA guidelines for thalidomide.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Burning Mouth Syndrome; HIV Infection	Drug: Thalidomide	Phase 2

Detailed Description:

The proposed clinical trial will evaluate the efficacy of topically-applied thalidomide as a treatment for painful oral lesions in HIV-infected patients. Limited data suggest that this drug may be effective when given systemically, but is accompanied by a high incidence of side effects. Administration of the drug topically onto the lesion should result in high local concentrations within the lesion thereby suppressing tumor necrosis factor which is thought to be related to the size and severity of the lesion. Subjects will be randomly allocated to one of three possible groups: systemic administration of thalidomide, topical administration of thalidomide, and placebo. The dose of thalidomide will be determined in a dose escalation pilot study prior to the main study. Healing, pain, and the incidence of side effects will be assessed at baseline and weekly for up to eight weeks. Successful demonstration of an enhanced therapeutic effect or reduced toxicity may provide a basis for the development of novel routes of administration and drugs for the treatment of painful oral lesions associated with HIV infection and other diseases.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Enrollment: 110 participants
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Evaluation of a TNF-Alpha Modulator for the Treatment of Oral Lesions in HIV/AIDS Patients
• Study Start Date: June 1996
• Study Completion Date: December 2004

Arms and Interventions

Outcome Measures

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child, Adult, Older Adult
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PATIENTS:

Persons with HIV infection or acquired immunodeficiency of at least 18 years of age with one or more chronic, painful intraoral lesions will constitute the study sample for both studies.

Subjects must be referred by a primary care physician who is managing their care, and must have HIV/AIDS status confirmed and current CD4 status provided by the primary physician.

Patients' HIV treatment regimen will not be altered and those receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy will not be excluded.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR PATIENTS:

Patients will be excluded from participation if taking any concurrent treatment for mucosal lesions (including topical or systemic steroids, viscous lidocaine, topical or systemic anti-fungals, or mouthwashes), prior to concurrent thalidomide therapy, chemotherapy or radiation therapy for neoplasms, concurrent acute therapy for opportunistic infection, concurrent use of sedatives (such as CNS depressants or alcohol use), history of allergy to thalidomide, pre-existing peripheral neuropathy of grade II or higher, and females of childbearing potential.

Pregnant or lactating females will be excluded.

INCLUSION CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS:

Patients must be between ages 40 to 60 years.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS:

Cannot be using prescription or non-prescription medications except birth control.

Cannot have acute or chronic current infections or illness.

Cannot have autoimmune conditions, such as diabetes, lupus, or HIV (must be healthy).

Cannot use within 24 hours: anti-inflammatory drugs or other analgesics.

Cannot use within 24 hours: anti-histamines or allergy medications.

Cannot use within 3 weeks: antidepressants or steroids.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Maryland

National Institute of Dental And Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892

Sponsors and Collaborators

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

More Information

Publications:

Gardner-Medwin JM, Smith NJ, Powell RJ. Clinical experience with thalidomide in the management of severe oral and genital ulceration in conditions such as Behçet's disease: use of neurophysiological studies to detect thalidomide neuropathy. Ann Rheum Dis. 1994 Dec;53(12):828-32.

Ghigliotti G, Repetto T, Farris A, Roy MT, De Marchi R. Thalidomide: treatment of choice for aphthous ulcers in patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993 Feb;28(2 Pt 1):271-2.

Jacobson JM, Greenspan JS, Spritzler J, Ketter N, Fahey JL, Jackson JB, Fox L, Chernoff M, Wu AW, MacPhail LA, Vasquez GJ, Wohl DA. Thalidomide for the treatment of oral aphthous ulcers in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases AIDS Clinical Trials Group. N Engl J Med. 1997 May 22;336(21):1487-93.

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001524
• Other Study ID Numbers: 960095; 96-D-0095
• First Posted: November 4, 1999
• Last Update Posted: March 4, 2008
• Last Verified: December 2004

Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Thalidomide; Clinical Trial; Tumor Necrosis Factor; Delayed Healing; Painful Oral Lesions; HIV/AIDS; Mouth Ulcers; Aphthous Ulcers; Healing; Cytokines

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

HIV Infections; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Burning Mouth Syndrome; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Syndrome; Disease; Pathologic Processes; Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Infections; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Slow Virus Diseases; Mouth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Thalidomide; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Leprostatic Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Angiogenesis Modulating Agents; Growth Substances