The Effects of Prednisone on HIV Levels and the Immune System

Summary

The purpose of this study is to see if it is safe and effective to give prednisone to HIV-infected patients. Prednisone is a corticosteroid, a hormone produced by the body that inhibits immune cell responses. Prednisone may be able to lower the level of HIV in the body (viral load) by reducing the number of cells that HIV can infect. At the same time, prednisone may be able to increase CD4 cell counts (cells of the immune system that fight infection).

Timeline

Start

1996-08

Primary completion

2002-06

Completion

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Publications

• Background Wallis RS, Kalayjian R, Jacobson JM, Fox L, Purdue L, Shikuma CM, Arakaki R, Snyder S, Coombs RW, Bosch RJ, Spritzler J, Chernoff M, Aga E, Myers L, Schock B, Lederman MM. A study of the immunology, virology, and safety of prednisone in HIV-1-infected subjects with CD4 cell counts of 200 to 700 mm(-3). J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2003 Mar 1;32(3):281-6. doi: 10.1097/00126334-200303010-00006.

Drugs

Indications