Accurate Staging of Immuno-virological Dynamics During Acute HIV Infection (ACS)

In this prospective longitudinal study we aim to assess how immunologic and viral aspects of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral reservoir, established during early HIV infection and responsible for viral rebound at treatment interruption, evolve in individuals who start combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) during acute seroconversion.

Recently infected patients will be selected based on Fiebig staging for an in depth sampling protocol at different timepoints during a 2 year follow up period. Colonbiopsies, lymphnode resection, lumbar puncture, leucapheresis and repeated peripheral venous blood-draws will be performed. Immunological, virological and genome expression analysis will be performed on the gathered samples.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: HIV; Seroconversion, HIV
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Early combination anti-retroviral treatment

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 70

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Linos Vandekerckhove, Prof. Dr.; Phone Number: +3293323398; Email: linos.vandekerckhove@ugent.be

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Oost-Vlaanderen
    • Gent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium, 9000
      • Recruiting
      • UZ Gent
      • Contact: Linos Vandekerckhove, Prof. Dr.; Phone Number: +3293323398; Email: linos.vandekerchove@ugent.be
      • Principal Investigator: Linos Vandekerckhove, Prof.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

We will enroll a minimum of 30 patients and a maximum of 70 participants (Fiebig stages I - VI) in the study to establish a cohort of early treated patients. We aim at including at least 15 people with an incomplete Western Blot (Fiebig I->IV) and as a control we will also include patients with complete Western Blot and history of a semi-recent infection (Fiebig V-VI).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Documented recent HIV-1 infection, early diagnosis: clinical symptoms of acute seroconversion and incomplete Western Blot OR negative screening test within the past 6 months and incomplete Western Blot OR risk contact within the 3 months and presumable primo-infection with or without clinical symptoms and incomplete Western Blot
• Able and willing to provide written informed consent
• Ability to attend the complete schedule of assessments and patient visits for patients participating in option A schedule (described below), or ability to attend a partial schedule of assessments and patient visits for patients participating in option B (described below).
• Ability and willingness to have blood and tissue samples collected and stored indefinitely and used for various research purposes.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous or current history of opportunistic infection (AIDS defining events as defined in category C of the CDC clinical classification), consisting of chronic HIV-1 infection.
• Evidence of active HBV infection (Hepatitis B surface antigen positive or HBV viral load positive in the past and no evidence of subsequent seroconversion (=HBV antigen or viral load negative and positive HBV surface antibody).
• Evidence of active HCV infection: HCV antibody positive result within 60 days prior to study entry with positive HCV viral load or, if the HCV antibody result is negative, a positive HCV RNA result within 60 days prior to study entry.
• Current or known history of cardiomyopathy or significant ischemic or cerebrovascular disease.
• Current history of cancer.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Any conditions, including psychiatric and psychological disorders, which will in the opinion of the investigator interfere with the trial conduct or safety of the participant.
• Previous participation in a trial evaluating an immune modulating agent
• Abnormal laboratory tests results at screening: confirmed Hemoglobin <11g/dl for women and <12 g:dl for men/ confirmed platelet count < 100000/l / confirmed neutrophil count <1000/μl/ confirmed AST and/or ALT > 3xULN
• Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
• Acute or serious illness, in the opinion of the site investigator, requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization within 60 days prior to entry.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evolution of virological and immunological parameters of the HIV reservoir in recently infected HIV positive patients that started treatment during acute seroconversion.	Virological, immunological and gene expression analysis on blood and tissue from in depth sampling.	10 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evolution of microbiome in recently infected HIV positive patients that started treatment during acute seroconversion.	Microbiome analysis on stoolsamples.	10 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Ghent
• Collaborators: ViiV Healthcare
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Linos Vandekerckhove, Prof. Dr., University Hospital, Ghent

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): February 28, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 13, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Reservoir
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Blood-Borne Infections; Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Communicable Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Lentivirus Infections; Retroviridae Infections; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; Anti-Infective Agents; Antiviral Agents; Anti-Retroviral Agents
• Other Study ID Numbers: ACS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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