Efficacy of Elevated CD4 Counts on CMV Retinitis
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00091884 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: September 20, 2004
Last Update Posted
: March 4, 2008
|
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Some patients with HIV/AIDS suffer from a dangerous viral infection of the retina (and other organs) called cytomegalovirus infection (CMV). The medications currently used to treat CMV all have serious side effects. AIDS patients are prone to this infection because their immune system produces a lower number of CD4+T lymphocytes, the type of blood cells that fight viral infections.
Some new HIV medications strengthen the immune system. This study will investigate the possibility that CMV patients on these HIV medications can develop immune systems strong enough to fight CMV without CMV medication. The study will enroll a maximum of 15 adult HIV/AIDS patients who have a CD4+T cell count over 150 cells/microliter and who have inactive CMV retinitis that is not immediately sight threatening. It is expected to last approximately 2 years.
Each prospective participant will have a physical examination and complete eye examination, including retina photographs, with the eye examination and retina photographs repeated 2 weeks later. If there is no evidence of active CMV retinitis, the participant will be enrolled in the study, and CMV medication will be stopped. The participant will have physical and eye examinations every 2 weeks for the first 3 months of the study, and every 3 weeks for the next 3 months. After 6 months, the frequency of the examinations will be 2-8 weeks, depending on the participant's CD4 count. After one year, a participant with a CD4 count remaining over 150 cells/microliter may return to the care of a local ophthalmologist with HIV/CMV experience, revisiting the clinical center every 6 months. The participant's CMV medication will be restarted when CMV retinitis becomes active, which will terminate participation in the study.
Condition or disease |
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Cytomegalovirus Retinitis |
Study Type : | Observational |
Enrollment : | 15 participants |
Official Title: | Efficacy of Elevated CD4 Cell Counts on CMV Retinitis |
Study Start Date : | July 2004 |
Study Completion Date : | April 2005 |


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Ages Eligible for Study: | Child, Adult, Senior |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Diagnosis of AIDS as defined by the Centers for Disease Control.
Inactive, non-sight-threatening CMV retinitis. Non sight-threatening CMV retinitis is defined as CMV retinitis not within 1000 microns from the optic disc or 1000 microns from the fovea. Exception: patients with CMV retinitis within 1000 microns of the fovea or disc in only one eye, if visual acuity in that eye is worse than 20/400 without the use of eccentric fixation, and visual acuity in the other eye is 20/400 or better.
CD4 T cell count greater than 150 cells per microliter.
Patients must be able understand the nature of the study, agree to the provision, and understand and sign the informed consent form.
Women and men age 18 or older are eligible for enrollment.
Platelets greater than 25,000/microliter.
Hemoglobin greater than 8.5 gms.
Total neutrophil count greater than 750/mm(3).
Karnofsky performance score greater than or equal to 60.
Receiving systemic anti-CMV therapy.
Receiving anti-HIV therapy. If the patient is receiving IL-2, at least one month from last infusion must elapse prior to assessment for eligibility.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Intraocular sustained release ganciclovir implant in the eye for less than 9 months, or other organ involvement from CMV infection requiring use of systemic ganciclovir or foscarnet.
CMV retinitis should not involve the retina solely anterior to the equator, or within 1000 microns from the optic disc, or within 1000 microns from the fovea. Exception: patients with lesions that have involved the fovea or disc and caused visual acuity worse than 20/400 without the use of eccentric fixation, may be included.
Opacification of the cornea, lens, or vitreous in either eye that precludes examination of the fundus.
Other retinal disease that could obscure the diagnosis of CMV retinitis, such as ocular toxoplasmosis.
Significant psychiatric or emotional disorders that would impair patient understanding or participation in the trial.
Life expectancy less than three months.
Active CMV disease requiring systemic anti-CMV therapy.
CMV retinitis first diagnosised with CD4 T-cell count greater than 150 cells per microliter.
Need for medications with anti-CMV effect.
Participation in conflicting clinical trial.
Progression of CMV retinitis between screening and baseline examinations.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00091884
United States, Maryland | |
National Eye Institute (NEI) | |
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892 |
Publications:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00091884 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
040223 04-EI-0223 |
First Posted: | September 20, 2004 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 4, 2008 |
Last Verified: | April 2005 |
Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
HIV Immune Recovery Reactivation Anti-Viral Medication |
HAART CMV Retinitis Retinal Disease |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome HIV Infections Retinitis Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Immune System Diseases Lentivirus Infections Retroviridae Infections RNA Virus Infections Virus Diseases |
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral Sexually Transmitted Diseases Slow Virus Diseases Retinal Diseases Eye Diseases Cytomegalovirus Infections Herpesviridae Infections DNA Virus Infections Eye Infections, Viral Eye Infections |