Painful HIV Neuropathy and Alpha-Lipoic Acid

April 21, 2008 updated by: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Painful HIV Neuropathy: Treatment With Alpha-Lipoic Acid

HIV is associated with painful peripheral neuropathy. Disability is often significant. Alpha-Lipoic Acid's antioxidant properties may have benefit in this condition.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

HIV is associated with painful distal peripheral polyneuropathy in up to 35-50% of those without AIDS and in more than 70% of those with advanced disease. The condition is progressive but may be halted with disease remission. Disability is often significant. Peripheral nerve axons and sensory neuron cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia are the principal targets of the process leading to symptoms. Alpha-lipoic acid occurs naturally in every cell of the body. In high concentrations it acts as an anti-oxidant which regenerates other anti-oxidants and promotes glutathione synthesis. Clinical studies for diabetic neuropathy have shown significant benefit at daily oral doses that are well-tolerated.

This placebo-controlled study is designed to evaluate the effects of daily oral alpha-lipoic acid supplements (600mg, three times per/day) plus standard medical care in the treatment of painful HIV-associated neuropathy over a 24-week period in adult subjects. Possible benefits of the study include reduction in pain and disability, reduced use of medications, and enhanced cellular metabolism.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

60

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

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

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599-7025
        • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

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:

  • HIV-seropositive
  • Distal peripheral sensory neuropathy as diagnosed by a neurologist with pain or paresthesia, with or without numbness or weakness
  • Able to understand and participate in protocol activities
  • Able to give informed consent
  • Under the care of a UNC ID Clinical physician for at least 2 months
  • Able to document pain characteristics, use of pain medications, and other assessment instruments and characteristics
  • On stable antiretroviral therapy (or none) for 12 weeks prior to enrollment
  • No changes in peripheral neuropathy pharmacologic treatment for 12 weeks prior to enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any significant cognitive impairment or psychosis
  • Pregnancy or anticipated pregnancy (women of child-bearing potential must agree to use birth control for the duration of the study)
  • Undergoing any current treatment for malignancy, including chemotherapy or radiation therapy within the past year
  • Concurrent or prior use of a-LA
  • Known non-HIV risk factors for peripheral neuropathy, such as DM, B12/folate deficiency; thyroid dysfunction; hx of exposure to lead, mercury, arsenic, thallium (prior diagnostic tests permitted), other heavy metals or complex hydrocarbons
  • Use of metronidazole, isoniazid or other furantoins
  • Suspected or documented thiamin deficiency
  • Active alcoholism
  • Allergy to a-LA
  • Hx of 'significant' use of anti-oxidant supplements during the two months prior to study entry

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: John Mann, MD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

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 Major Dates

Study Start

September 1, 2003

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2007

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 15, 2004

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 15, 2004

First Posted (Estimate)

March 16, 2004

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 22, 2008

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 21, 2008

Last Verified

April 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • R21AT001775 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • MannJ

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.

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