A Study to Evaluate the Effect of Anti-HIV Therapy on Lean Tissue (Muscle) in HIV-Positive Patients

Effect of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) on Lean Body Mass

The purpose of this study is to determine whether HIV-positive patients with extremely low viral loads (level of HIV in the blood) have a greater gain in lean tissue during anti-HIV (antiretroviral) therapy than patients with higher viral loads.

Many HIV-positive patients experience changes in body composition (muscle, fat, etc.) while on antiretroviral therapy. However, any weight gained while taking antiretrovirals is mostly fat. A patient's viral load may affect whether weight gained is a result of increased fat or increased muscle. A large-scale study is needed to closely evaluate the effects of antiretroviral therapy on body composition.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Effective antiretroviral therapy, as measured by a decrease in HIV-1 RNA levels, may sustain or improve important components of body composition, perhaps through a decrease in the underlying pro-inflammatory activity and resting energy expenditure. Moderate weight gain has been reported to be associated with HAART. Meaningful increase in total body weight, however, may need to be comprised of augmentation of lean body mass (primarily muscle), since mortality in HIV and cancer wasting is associated with sizable decreases in lean body mass (LBM) and there is no evidence that increases in fat cell mass are protective. To date, there has not been any large-scale prospective evaluation of the effects of HAART on body composition. Nor has it been determined whether increasing body weight or specific components of body composition (fat or lean body mass) in persons who have lost substantive amounts of weight protects against AIDS-defining complications or prolongs survival.

This is a 48-week, observational study of lean body mass, appetite, functional performance, and systemic markers of inflammation during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in patients co-enrolled in ACTG antiretroviral studies. Patients are stratified by body mass index (BMI) into 2 cohorts: less than 23 kg/m2 versus greater than or equal to 23 to 28 kg/m2. At selected study visits, times of antiretroviral medication change, and following the diagnosis of an AIDS-defining event, the following are assessed: height (screening visit only), weight, lean body mass, appetite (by questionnaire), functional performance (by questionnaire), and markers of systemic inflammation.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment

200

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • San Juan, Puerto Rico, 009365067
        • Univ of Puerto Rico
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 900331079
        • Univ of Southern California / LA County USC Med Ctr
      • San Diego, California, United States, 921036325
        • Univ of California / San Diego Treatment Ctr
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94115
        • Stanford at Kaiser / Kaiser Permanente Med Ctr
      • Stanford, California, United States, 943055107
        • Stanford Univ Med Ctr
    • District of Columbia
      • Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20059
        • Howard Univ
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30308
        • Emory Univ
    • Hawaii
      • Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, 96816
        • Queens Med Ctr
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Northwestern Univ Med School
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
        • Cook County Hosp
    • Louisiana
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112
        • Tulane Univ School of Medicine
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112
        • Charity Hosp / Tulane Univ Med School
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
        • Beth Israel Deaconess - West Campus
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
        • Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10003
        • Beth Israel Med Ctr
      • New York, New York, United States, 10021
        • Cornell Univ Med Ctr
      • New York, New York, United States, 10021
        • Chelsea Ctr
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106
        • Case Western Reserve Univ
      • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 432101228
        • Ohio State Univ Hosp Clinic
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
        • Univ of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia
    • Washington
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 981224304
        • Univ of Washington

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria

Patients may be eligible for this study if they:

  • Are enrolled in an adult AIDS clinical trial.
  • Are HIV-positive.
  • Have a viral load of at least 10,000 copies/ml.
  • Are expected to live at least 6 months.
  • Are at least 18 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients will not be eligible for this study if they:

  • Have a history of diabetes requiring medication.
  • Have a history of heart disorders.
  • Have a fever, diarrhea, nausea, or a condition which makes it difficult to eat within the 14 days prior to study entry.
  • Have swelling due to any cause.
  • Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
  • Are receiving any therapy to increase your appetite or gain weight within 30 days prior to study entry.
  • Are receiving any therapy for a severe infection or medical illness within 14 days prior to study entry.
  • Are taking certain medications.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Chair: C Shikuma
  • Study Chair: F Sattler

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 2, 1999

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 30, 2001

First Posted (Estimate)

August 31, 2001

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 24, 2005

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2005

Last Verified

August 1, 2002

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on HIV Infections

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