Elite Controller and ART-treated HIV+ Statin Versus ASA Treatment Intervention Study

Elite Controller and ART-Treated HIV+ Statin Versus ASA Treatment Intervention Study

Background:

- The immune system protects the body from infection. But it can also cause harm. For example, the clotting system makes blood clot and protects from bleeding. But blood clots are sometimes harmful. People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have increased inflammation and clotting. This may increase their risk for diseases like stroke or heart attack. Researchers want to know how aspirin or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (so-called statin medications) affect the immune and clotting systems of people with HIV. Aspirin is a medicine to decrease clotting. Statins are medications given to lower cholesterol and decrease inflammation.

Objectives:

- To see how aspirin or statins change immune and clotting systems in people with HIV.

Eligibility:

- Adults 18 and older with HIV and a low viral load, not on aspirin or a statin medication. They must also have either: (1) never taken anti-HIV medications (ARVs), have a suppressed viral load, have stable CD4 counts, and never had an opportunistic infection; or (2) been taking ARVs for 5 continuous years and have a suppressed viral load for more than 3 years.

Design:

• Participants will be screened with medical history, physical exam, and blood and lab tests.
• Participants will repeat screening tests and have an MRI. An MRI is a way to visualize blood vessels in the neck and head. Participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of a cylinder surrounded by a magnetic field.
• Participants will take either study drug once daily for 9 months.
• Participants will have a blood procedure twice. Blood will be removed through a needle in one arm and circulated through a machine that removes white blood cells. The blood, minus white blood cells, is returned through a needle in the other arm.
• All participants will be observed for 3 months before and after treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Aspirin; Drug: Atorvastatin

Detailed Description

Despite dramatic improvements in mortality with antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-infected persons remain at risk of developing non-infectious complications, including cardiovascular, renal, and neurological disease. A small subset of the HIV-infected population achieve durable control of HIV virus in the absence of ART. These individuals, termed elite controllers (ECs), remain ART na(SqrRoot) ve, have stable CD4 T cell counts for many years and have no history of opportunistic infections. Despite the lack of AIDS complications, recent evidence suggests ECs may exhibit heightened immune activation that may contribute to a potentially increased risk for non-infectious complications, similar to successfully treated progressors.

In the current 2 group, randomized, open label trial, we intend to study the effects of a lipid lowering agent vs aspirin (ASA) on immune activation in HIV-1 infected participants. One group will consist of ECs who are HIV-1 infected, maintain HIV-RNA levels of less than the LLD of commercially available assays in the absence of ART, have no history of ART or opportunistic infections (OIs) and have stable CD4 T cell counts for greater than 3 years. The second group will enroll HIV-1 infected Treated Progressors (henceforth referred to as ART <50) who have maintained HIV-RNA below the limit of detection in commercially available assays (<40, <48, or <50 copies/mL) for greater than 3 years on ART (treatment duration greater than 4 years). Up to 2 months after the screening and enrollment visit, each group will enter a 3 month observation period (to establish baseline values for biomarkers/cellular markers). After 3 months, participants from each group will be randomized to either ASA, 81 mg PO daily, or atorvastatin (ATV), 40 mg (dose adjusted for subjects on antiretroviral regimens with significant interactions, and will be treated for 9 months, followed by 3 months of a wash out period (see Figure 1). The primary end point will be change of sCD14 after 9 months of study intervention from Month 3 to Month 12 in each treatment arm, with groups combined (EC and ART <50). Secondary objectives will be to compare changes in soluble biomarkers (sCD14, IL-6, D-dimer, hsCRP, sTF, sCD163 and other relevad treatment arms (ASA vs statin and EC vs ART<50 and with groups combined), to evaluate cardiovascular (CV) disease prevalence in EC vs ART<50 and with groups combined), to evaluate cardiovascular (CV) disease prevalence in EC vs ART <50 by MR imaging of carotids, to determine MR measurements and correlations with biomarkers and cellular activation markers, and to investigate changes in plasma viremia as measured by single copy assay over time.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 53
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
      • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
  • Minnesota
    • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
      • Hennipen County Medical Center

Participation Criteria

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:

EC Arm

1. Age greater than or equal to 18 years.
2. Documented HIV-1 infection confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot tests (will not be repeated if performed previously at NIH).
3. Categorized as a long term non-progressor EC as defined by viral loads typically less than the LLD of commercially available assays and clinical and laboratory criteria (no OIs, no ART, stable CD4 T cell counts for more than 3 years). Viral load blips are allowed as long as they are less than 500 copies/mL and flanked by viral load measurements less than 100copies/mL. Viral load <100c/mL will be acceptable for eligibility at screening.
4. In women of childbearing potential, with no plans for pregnancy for the next 15 months and willing to use 2 investigator approved highly reliable methods of birth control consistently while on the study or in 3 month follow up.
5. Willingness to have samples stored for future research.
6. Not on a statin or ASA for the past 6 months.

ART <50 Arm

1. Age greater than or equal to 18 years.
2. Documented HIV-1 infection confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot tests.
3. In women of childbearing potential, with no plans for pregnancy for the next 15 months and willing to use 2 investigator approved highly reliable methods of birth control consistently while on the study or in 3 month follow up.
4. On continuous combination ART >4 years.
5. HIV RNA <50 copies/mL (or less than 40 or less than 48 copies/mL, depending on the lower limit of detection of the assay used; transient periods of low level (<300) detectable virus, blips, acceptable if isolated and followed by viral loads less than the lower limit of detection) >3 years and current HIV-RNA less than the LLD of the commercially available assay used. Subject will be rescreened if HIV is detectable at screening visit.
6. Willingness to have samples stored for future research.
7. Not on a statin or ASA for the past 6 months.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

1. Diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or hypercholesterolemia (LDL cholesterol 190 mg/dL).
2. Known hypersensitivity or allergy to ATV or ASA, including a history of myositis or rhabdomyolysis with statin or ASA use.
3. Other contraindication for ASA or statin therapy (active liver disease, peptic ulcer disease, etc.).
4. Women who are lactating, pregnant, or actively trying to become pregnant or considering pregnancy over the likely span of the study (including women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to use adequate contraception throughout the study).
5. Any chronic inflammatory condition either requiring anti-inflammatory medication (systemic corticosteroids, daily NSAID use,immunomodulating medications) which may, in the opinion of the investigator, confound the interpretation of soluble inflammatory biomarkers. While on study, short term (less than 5 days) NSAID use will be allowed at the discretion of the investigator.
6. Active drug use or alcohol abuse that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the ability of the subject to participate in the study or that may unacceptably increase the risk of the study intervention..
7. Safety laboratory cut offs: coagulation (INR >2 upper limit of normal [ULN], PLT<75K), renal function (GFR<60), liver function (ALT or Alkaline phosphatase or direct bilirubin >2x ULN), aldolase <1.5 ULN and anemia (Hg <9 mg/dL).
8. Antiretroviral therapy with tipranivir, or any therapy which combines non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors with protease inhibitors.
9. Chronic hepatitis C co-infection. However, if a subject has more than 24 weeks of sustained virologic response (SVR), the subject can be considered for eligibility.

10. If either MR or apheresis is contraindicated, subject may still participate without this procedure. In the case of missed apheresis, a 30 mL research blood draw will be substituted (see Appendices B and C).

    • If statin initiation is indicated per current guidelines, subject will be counseled to consult with their PMD. If the subject then chooses to take part in the study, we will provide their PMD with all pertinent lab results during the course of the study, if requested.

Co-enrollment Guidelines: Co-enrollment in other trials will be restricted, other than enrollment on observational studies. Study staff should be notified of co-enrollment as it may require the approval of the Investigator.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Elite Controller; Elite controllers not on ART	Drug: Aspirin; Daily Asprin daily; Drug: Atorvastatin; Daily Atorvastatin Daily
Active Comparator: Treated Progressors; HIV infected on ART	Drug: Aspirin; Daily Asprin daily; Drug: Atorvastatin; Daily Atorvastatin Daily

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in sCD14 After 9 Months of Treatment With Aspirin or Atorvastatin	sCD14 change between baseline (average of month 0 and month 3 in the study) and month 12	Month 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in sCD14 in EC and ART <50 Groups Treated With Aspirin or Atorvastatin.	sCD14 change between baseline (average of month 0 and month 3 in the study) and month 12	Month 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Deeks SG, Phillips AN. HIV infection, antiretroviral treatment, ageing, and non-AIDS related morbidity. BMJ. 2009 Jan 26;338:a3172. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a3172. No abstract available.
• Krishnan S, Wilson EM, Sheikh V, Rupert A, Mendoza D, Yang J, Lempicki R, Migueles SA, Sereti I. Evidence for innate immune system activation in HIV type 1-infected elite controllers. J Infect Dis. 2014 Mar;209(6):931-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jit581. Epub 2013 Nov 1.
• Funderburg NT, Mayne E, Sieg SF, Asaad R, Jiang W, Kalinowska M, Luciano AA, Stevens W, Rodriguez B, Brenchley JM, Douek DC, Lederman MM. Increased tissue factor expression on circulating monocytes in chronic HIV infection: relationship to in vivo coagulation and immune activation. Blood. 2010 Jan 14;115(2):161-7. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-03-210179. Epub 2009 Oct 14.

Helpful Links

• NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 18, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 16, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): October 16, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 5, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 5, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): March 7, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 29, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 7, 2020
• Last Verified: April 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Immune Activation; Treated Progressors
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Blood-Borne Infections; Communicable Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Immune System Diseases; Slow Virus Diseases; HIV Infections; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Fibrinolytic Agents; Fibrin Modulating Agents; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Antipyretics; Antimetabolites; Anticholesteremic Agents; Hypolipidemic Agents; Lipid Regulating Agents; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Aspirin; Atorvastatin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 140039; 14-I-0039

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No