A Multicenter Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Trial to Evaluate Azidothymidine (AZT) Treatment of the AIDS Dementia Complex and Central Nervous System (CNS) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection

Summary

To test whether zidovudine (AZT) is useful as a treatment for the neurologic syndrome called AIDS dementia complex. To determine how long AZT takes to reach cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), how long, and at what concentration it is found there. HIV infection can result in impairment in the function of the brain and spinal cord, leading to disturbances in the ability to think clearly and in strength and coordination. This disorder, which has been called the AIDS dementia complex, may be due to a direct effect of HIV on the nervous system. It is known that AZT does get into the brain to some extent, where it may reduce growth of HIV. It is hoped that AZT will stabilize or improve the symptoms of the AIDS dementia complex.

Timeline

Start

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Primary completion

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Completion

1990-08

Publications

• Background Sidtis JJ, Gatsonis C, Price RW, Singer EJ, Collier AC, Richman DD, Hirsch MS, Schaerf FW, Fischl MA, Kieburtz K, et al. Zidovudine treatment of the AIDS dementia complex: results of a placebo-controlled trial. AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Ann Neurol. 1993 Apr;33(4):343-9. doi: 10.1002/ana.410330403.
• Background Price RW, Koch MA, Sidtis JJ, Feinberg J, Collier A, Kennedy C, Singer E, Price S. Zidovudine (AZT) treatment of the AIDS dementia complex (ADC): results of a placebo-controlled, multicentered therapeutic trial. Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9;5:407 (abstract no WBP331)

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