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CompletedNCT00001009Updated Nov 1, 2021

A Study of Dextran Sulfate in HIV-Infected Patients and in Patients With AIDS or AIDS Related Complex (ARC)

A Phase 1 interventional study of Dextran sulfate in HIV Infections, sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Completed at 8 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 12 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-11-01.

Sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

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Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Ages
12 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-14

Among 1,034 studies in HIV Infections by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) — 10 open to participants now, 15 under way, 1 of them phase 3. HIV Infections · National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Enrollment
417th of 883
60 · median 59
Phase 1
365 of 1,034
4 open now
Registered
1st of 1,034
by date

Among the 1,034 studies in HIV Infections by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), this one is the 417th largest by enrollment of the 883 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 365 in phase 1, and was the 1st registered.

HIV Infections

4,736 studies on the registry are indexed under HIV Infections; 246 are open to participants now.

Browse HIV Infections studies →

Open to participants now

10 of the 1,034 studies in HIV Infections by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are open now, in 12 countries. Recruiting first, the newest first:

5 more — sign in →

By country, each count listing its studies:

All 10 open studies →

Who these studies take

Of the 159 HIV Infections studies recruiting now, 104 (65%) set no upper age limit and 42 (26%) stop at 75 or younger; 31 take children under 18; 60 take healthy volunteers.

This study: 12 Years and older · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.

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02

Study summary

To determine the effectiveness and safety of dextran sulfate (DS) as a treatment for patients with AIDS, AIDS related complex (ARC), or asymptomatic HIV infection with or without persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL), and to determine antiviral activity at different doses of DS. Although zidovudine (AZT) has shown promise in prolonging life in patients with AIDS and severe ARC, it has significant blood toxicities. It would be beneficial to combine AZT with another antiviral agent that does not have the same toxicity. DS might be a suitable drug since it has shown antiviral activity against HIV in the laboratory, and in preliminary studies it has shown little toxicity. Also, the combination of DS with AZT has been shown to be more effective than either alone.

Read the detailed description

Although zidovudine (AZT) has shown promise in prolonging life in patients with AIDS and severe ARC, it has significant blood toxicities. It would be beneficial to combine AZT with another antiviral agent that does not have the same toxicity. DS might be a suitable drug since it has shown antiviral activity against HIV in the laboratory, and in preliminary studies it has shown little toxicity. Also, the combination of DS with AZT has been shown to be more effective than either alone.

The study will begin with 10 patients with AIDS, 10 with ARC, and 10 with asymptomatic HIV infection taking DS by mouth 3 times a day for 24 weeks. If the initial dose of DS is tolerated without significant side effects, the next group of patients will receive a higher dose. A third group of patients will be given either a higher or lower dose depending on the results of the earlier groups. Patients will be evaluated every other week for 12 weeks, then monthly for the remaining 16 weeks. Patients will have the option of continuing DS until the entire study is completed if the drug is well tolerated. Inhaled pentamidine for the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is allowed, but other investigational drugs are not. Drug effects on the HIV virus, immune function, and clinical condition will be monitored during the periodic evaluations.

03

Conditions studied

  • HIV Infections

Keywords

  • T-Lymphocytes
  • HIV Antigens
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Evaluation
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
  • AIDS-Related Complex
04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
12 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

  • Aerosolized pentamidine for prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).
  • Acetaminophen.
  • Ketoconazole.

Consistently positive serum p24 antigen = or > 70 picograms/ml, defined by the Abbott HIV antigen test, on two occasions, each within 1 month prior to entry, separated by at least 72 hours, the last of which must be within 2 weeks of starting therapy. Positive antibody to HIV with a federally licensed ELISA test kit.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Patients with any negative p24 antigen test within 1 month of entry are excluded. Hemophiliacs are excluded.

Prior Medication:

Excluded within 4 weeks of study entry:

  • Biologic response modifiers.
  • Zidovudine (AZT) or other antiretroviral agents.
  • Other drugs.
  • Excluded within 12 weeks of study entry:
  • Ribavirin.
  • Excluded:
  • Ongoing therapy and/or prophylaxis for an AIDS-defining opportunistic infection.
  • Anticoagulant drugs.
  • Systemic .
  • Aspirin.
  • Dextran sulfate.
  • Sedatives.
  • Barbiturates.

Prior Treatment:

Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry:

  • Transfusion.

Severe diarrhea:

  • = or > 5 loose or watery stools per day. Significant malabsorption:
  • > 10 percent weight loss within past 3 months with serum carotene \< 75 IU/ml or vitamin A \< 75 IU/ml. Transfusion dependent:
  • Requiring 2 units of blood > once a month. Active opportunistic infection. Symptomatic visceral Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), progression of KS within 1 month of entry, or concurrent neoplasms other than KS. Basal cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of the cervix. Hemorrhagic diseases such as hemophilia A or B or von Willebrand disease.

Active drug or alcohol abuse sufficient in the investigator's opinion to prevent adequate compliance with study therapy.

Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants

Interventions

06

Study locations

8 sites
  • Los Angeles County - USC Med Ctr
    Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
  • UCLA CARE Ctr
    Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
  • San Francisco AIDS Clinic / San Francisco Gen Hosp
    San Francisco, California 941102859, United States
  • George Washington Univ Med Ctr
    Washington, District of Columbia 20037, United States
  • Univ of Massachusetts Med Ctr
    Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, United States
  • Univ of Minnesota
    Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
  • Mem Sloan - Kettering Cancer Ctr
    New York, New York 10021, United States
  • Saint Luke's - Roosevelt Hosp Ctr
    New York, New York 10025, United States
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Falloon J, et al. 566C80 for the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS. Int Conf AIDS. 1991 Jun 16-21;7(2):241 (abstract no WB2239)
  • Abrams D, Pettinelli C, Power M, Kubacki VB, Grieco MH, Henry WK. A phase I/II dose ranging trial of oral dextran sulfate in HIV p24 antigen positive individuals (ACTG 060): results of a safety and efficacy trial. Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9;5:404 (abstract no WBP315)
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 1, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00001009
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 31, 2001
Completion
Apr 1990
Last update
Nov 1, 2021

Study contacts

Abrams D
study chair
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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