A Study to Evaluate the Effects of Azithromycin on MAC Disease Prevention in HIV-Positive Patients

Summary

This study is designed to find out whether HIV-positive patients whose immune systems have improved after receiving anti-HIV treatment should take azithromycin to prevent Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease. This study also examines the possibility of putting off MAC prevention treatment in patients who respond well to anti-HIV drug therapy. Azithromycin is approved for the prevention of MAC disease in people with HIV and low CD4 cell counts. However, some people who have taken azithromycin have been found to carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria (germs that can grow despite the presence of drugs used to kill them). It is not known whether the risks associated with taking azithromycin outweigh the risk of getting MAC disease.

Timeline

Start

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Primary completion

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Completion

2000-07

Publications

• Background Burman W, El-Sadr W, Grant L, Matts J, Zeh D, Gallagher B, Hafner R, Crane L, Gordin F. Low rates of all opportunistic infections among patients with advanced HIV disease responding to antiretroviral therapy - the CPCRA 048 Cohort. 7th Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect. 2000 Jan 30-Feb 2 (abstract no 241)
• Background El-Sadr WM, Manneheimer S, Grant L, Matts J. Use of PCP and MAC prophylaxis among eligible patients with and without CD4+ rebound. 39th Intersci Conf Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1999 Sept 26-29
• Background El-Sadr WM, Burman W, Grant L, Matts JP, Zeh D, Crane L, Gallagher B, Gordin F, Hafner R. Prophylaxis for Mycobacterium avium Complex can be deferred among patients with a past CD4 count <50 cells/mm3 who responded to antiretroviral therapy: results of a placebo-controlled trial (CPCRA 048). 7th Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect. 2000 Jan 30-Feb 2 (abstract no 247)
• Background El-Sadr WM, Burman WJ, Grant LB, Matts JP, Hafner R, Crane L, Zeh D, Gallagher B, Mannheimer SB, Martinez A, Gordin F. Discontinuation of prophylaxis against Mycobacterium avium complex disease in HIV-infected patients who have a response to antiretroviral therapy. Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS. N Engl J Med. 2000 Apr 13;342(15):1085-92. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200004133421503.

Drugs

Indications