Dehydroepiandrosterone Effects on HIV-1 Replication

Inclusion criteria:

• Evidence of HIV-1 infection
• HIV RNA <50 copies/mL
• Stable antiretroviral treatment regimen for at least 8 weeks
• Age 18 years or older
• Normal pap smear and mammograph within 1 year (females)
• Normal prostate-specific antigen level with in one year, age adjusted (males)

Exclusion criteria:

• Active opportunistic infections or malignancy other than localized cutaneous KS lesions
• Concurrent or prior use within the past 8 weeks of DHA, testosterone, other anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, megestrol acetate, growth hormone, IL-2, or thalidomide
• Diagnosis of AIDS Dementia Complex (stage II or higher)
• Active substance abuse (e.g., alcohol or injection drugs)
• Evidence of severe liver dysfunction or hepatic transaminases greater than 3x the upper normal limit
• Pregnant or breast-feeding
• History of endocrinologically-responsive tumors (e.g., breast, ovarian, uterine, or prostatic cancer, or malignant melanoma)