Foscarnet Treatment of Serious CMV Retinitis Infection in Patients With Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Summary

To explore the safety and usefulness of foscarnet, an antiviral agent, in the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Untreated CMV retinitis is a rapidly progressive, blinding disease in AIDS patients. The manner in which foscarnet breaks down in the body and the effect of increasing periodic intravenous doses are also studied. Foscarnet is active in vitro (test tube) against herpes viruses, including CMV, by inhibiting the virus DNA polymerases, enzymes necessary for virus replication, without affecting cellular DNA polymerases. Opportunistic CMV disease in AIDS is usually seen as retinitis, colitis, esophagitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, encephalitis, or pneumonia. Ganciclovir has been used to treat AIDS patients with CMV disease but can cause severe neutropenia (very low neutrophil cell counts). Foscarnet does not suppress the production of neutrophils or other leukocytes (myelosuppression) and has shown in vitro activity against HIV.

Timeline

Start

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Primary completion

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Completion

1992-02

Publications

• Background Jacobson MA, Polsky B, Causey D, Davis R, Tong W, O'Donnell JJ, Kuppermann BD, Heinemann MH, Feinberg J, Lizak P, et al. Pharmacodynamic relationship of pharmacokinetic parameters of maintenance doses of foscarnet and clinical outcome of cytomegalovirus retinitis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1994 May;38(5):1190-3. doi: 10.1128/AAC.38.5.1190.
• Background Aweeka F, Gambertoglio J, Mills J, Jacobson MA. Pharmacokinetics of intermittently administered intravenous foscarnet in the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients with serious cytomegalovirus retinitis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989 May;33(5):742-5. doi: 10.1128/AAC.33.5.742.
• Background Jacobson MA, O'Donnell JJ, Mills J. Foscarnet treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989 May;33(5):736-41. doi: 10.1128/AAC.33.5.736.
• Background Jacobson MA, Crowe S, Levy J, Aweeka F, Gambertoglio J, McManus N, Mills J. Effect of Foscarnet therapy on infection with human immunodeficiency virus in patients with AIDS. J Infect Dis. 1988 Oct;158(4):862-5. No abstract available.
• Background Jacobson MA, Causey D, Polsky B, Hardy D, Chown M, Davis R, O'Donnell JJ, Kuppermann BD, Heinemann MH, Holland GN, et al. A dose-ranging study of daily maintenance intravenous foscarnet therapy for cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS. J Infect Dis. 1993 Aug;168(2):444-8. doi: 10.1093/infdis/168.2.444.
• Background Jacobson MA, Causey D, Polsky B, Hardy D, Feinberg JE, O'Donnell JJ, Kuppermann BD, Heinemann MH, Holland G, Mills J. Dose-ranging study of daily intravenous (IV) maintenance foscarnet (PFA) therapy (Rx) for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in AIDS patients (ACTG protocol 015/915). Int Conf AIDS. 1990 Jun 20-23;6(2):113 (abstract no FB96)
• Background Jacobson MA, Causey D, Hardy D, Polsky B, Mills J, Feinberg JE. Tolerance and efficacy of daily intravenous (IV) maintenance foscarnet (PFA) therapy for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in AIDS patients (ACTG protocol 015). Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9;5:242 (abstract no MBP123)

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