Comparison of Anti HIV Drugs Used Alone or in Combination With Cytosine Arabinoside to Treat Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) in HIV-Infected Patients

Summary

To compare the safety and efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (zidovudine plus either didanosine or dideoxycytidine) versus antiretroviral therapy plus intravenous cytarabine (Ara-C) versus antiretroviral therapy plus intrathecal Ara-C in the maintenance or improvement of neurological function over 6 months in HIV-infected individuals who have developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). To compare the effect of these three treatment regimens on Karnofsky score and MRI studies. The effectiveness of Ara-C in the treatment of PML, caused by a human DNA papovavirus (designated JC virus) infection, has not been determined, although the most encouraging results have occurred with intrathecal administration of the drug.

Timeline

Start

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Primary completion

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Completion

1997-04

Publications

• Background Cytarabine nixed for PML. GMHC Treat Issues. 1996 Nov;10(11):9.
• Background Post MJ, Yiannoutsos C, Simpson D, Booss J, Clifford DB, Cohen B, McArthur JC, Hall CD. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in AIDS: are there any MR findings useful to patient management and predictive of patient survival? AIDS Clinical Trials Group, 243 Team. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1999 Nov-Dec;20(10):1896-906.
• Background Hall C, Timpone J, Dafni I, Antonijevic Z, Millar L, Booss J, Clifford D, Cohen B, McArthur J, Hollander H. ARA-C treatment of PML in AIDS patients. Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect.1997 Jan 22-26;4th:66 (abstract no 8)PMID: 97926517
• Background Yiannoutsos CT, Major EO, Curfman B, Jensen PN, Gravell M, Hou J, Clifford DB, Hall CD. Relation of JC virus DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid to survival in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients with biopsy-proven progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Ann Neurol. 1999 Jun;45(6):816-21. doi: 10.1002/1531-8249(199906)45:63.0.co;2-w.
• Background Hall CD, Dafni U, Simpson D, Clifford D, Wetherill PE, Cohen B, McArthur J, Hollander H, Yainnoutsos C, Major E, Millar L, Timpone J. Failure of cytarabine in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. AIDS Clinical Trials Group 243 Team. N Engl J Med. 1998 May 7;338(19):1345-51. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199805073381903.
• Background Crit Path AIDS Proj 1994-95 Winer; (No 30): 28-29. A phase II Multicenter Study Comparing Antiretroviral Therapy Alone to Antiretroviral Therapy Plku Cytosine Arabinosine (Cytarabine; Ara-C) for the Treatment of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected Subjects. .

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Indications