A Study of Dextran Sulfate in HIV-Infected Patients and in Patients With AIDS or AIDS Related Complex (ARC)

Summary

To determine the effectiveness and safety of dextran sulfate (DS) as a treatment for patients with AIDS, AIDS related complex (ARC), or asymptomatic HIV infection with or without persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL), and to determine antiviral activity at different doses of DS. Although zidovudine (AZT) has shown promise in prolonging life in patients with AIDS and severe ARC, it has significant blood toxicities. It would be beneficial to combine AZT with another antiviral agent that does not have the same toxicity. DS might be a suitable drug since it has shown antiviral activity against HIV in the laboratory, and in preliminary studies it has shown little toxicity. Also, the combination of DS with AZT has been shown to be more effective than either alone.

Timeline

Start

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Primary completion

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Completion

1990-04

Publications

• Background Falloon J, et al. 566C80 for the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS. Int Conf AIDS. 1991 Jun 16-21;7(2):241 (abstract no WB2239)
• Background Abrams D, Pettinelli C, Power M, Kubacki VB, Grieco MH, Henry WK. A phase I/II dose ranging trial of oral dextran sulfate in HIV p24 antigen positive individuals (ACTG 060): results of a safety and efficacy trial. Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9;5:404 (abstract no WBP315)

Drugs

Indications