ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00001048Updated Nov 1, 2021

Comparison of Anti HIV Drugs Used Alone or in Combination With Cytosine Arabinoside to Treat Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) in HIV-Infected Patients

A Phase 2 interventional study of Filgrastim and Cytarabine in HIV Infections and Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal, sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Completed at 9 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-11-01.

Sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
90
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-12

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
343rd of 883
90 · median 59
Phase 2
225 of 1,034
2 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 343rd largest by enrollment of the 883 interventional ones, is one of 225 in phase 2, and was the 1st registered.

By phase

1,034 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.

Phase 1365 · 4 open
Phase 2this study225 · 2 open
No phase145 · 0 open
Observational140 · 3 open
Phase 396 · 0 open
Phase 1/246 · 1 open
Phase 410 · 0 open
Phase 2/35 · 0 open
Other kind2 · 0 open

By the year they started

First in 1984; this study’s year is marked.

Size and results

Median enrollment 59 across the 883 interventional studies, 174 across the 136 observational. Of the 962 that completed or were terminated, 130 (14%) have results posted.

Watch this landscapeDownload CSVWith an account: a weekly mail of what changed among 1,034 studies in HIV Infections by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), or all of them as a file.
02

Study summary

To compare the safety and efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (zidovudine plus either didanosine or dideoxycytidine) versus antiretroviral therapy plus intravenous cytarabine (Ara-C) versus antiretroviral therapy plus intrathecal Ara-C in the maintenance or improvement of neurological function over 6 months in HIV-infected individuals who have developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). To compare the effect of these three treatment regimens on Karnofsky score and MRI studies.

The effectiveness of Ara-C in the treatment of PML, caused by a human DNA papovavirus (designated JC virus) infection, has not been determined, although the most encouraging results have occurred with intrathecal administration of the drug.

Read the detailed description

The effectiveness of Ara-C in the treatment of PML, caused by a human DNA papovavirus (designated JC virus) infection, has not been determined, although the most encouraging results have occurred with intrathecal administration of the drug.

Patients are randomized to receive antiretroviral therapy alone (AZT plus ddI or ddC), antiretroviral therapy plus intravenous Ara-C, or antiretroviral therapy plus intrathecal Ara-C. All patients receive 24 weeks of antiretroviral therapy. Beginning at week 2, patients on the intravenous Ara-C arm receive daily infusions of Ara-C over 5 days, with cycles repeating every 21 days. Patients on the intrathecal Ara-C arm receive single administrations of Ara-C at weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 24. A brain biopsy confirmation or in situ hybridization will be required within 7 days after study entry. Patients are followed every 4 weeks.

03

Conditions studied

  • HIV Infections
  • Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal

Keywords

  • Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Cytarabine
  • Zalcitabine
  • Didanosine
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
  • Zidovudine
  • Injections, Spinal
04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
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:

  • Local intralesional chemotherapy for mucocutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.
  • Topical antifungals, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, and amphotericin B for treatment of mucosal and esophageal candidiasis.
  • Foscarnet for newly developed CMV infection, only after discussion with the protocol chair.
  • Prophylactic and maintenance therapy for other opportunistic infections, provided patients are considered clinically stable.
  • No more than 1000 mg/day acyclovir for herpes simplex.
  • Antibiotics for bacterial infections as clinically indicated.
  • Antipyretics, analgesics, and antiemetics.

Concurrent Treatment:

Allowed:

  • Local radiation therapy for mucocutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma.

Patients must have:

  • infection.
  • Confirmed PML.
  • No other current active opportunistic infections requiring systemic therapy.
  • of at least 3 months.

NOTE:

  • A durable power of attorney is recommended where severe neurologic or psychiatric impairment can be foreseen while the patient is on study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:

  • Current active cryptococcal meningitis, cytomegaloviral encephalitis, toxoplasmosis encephalitis, CNS lymphoma, or neurosyphilis.

NOTE:

  • Patients on maintenance therapy for cryptococcal meningitis or toxoplasmosis encephalitis that has been stable for 4 months are permitted.
  • Conditions that seriously increase risk of a surgical procedure (e.g., coagulopathy, severe thrombocytopenia).
  • Any other disease that would interfere with evaluation of the patient.
  • Other life-threatening complications likely to cause death in \< 3 months.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

  • Ganciclovir.
  • Interferon.
  • Systemic chemotherapy other than Ara-C (unless specifically allowed).
  • Antiretroviral medications other than AZT, ddI, or ddC.

Patients with the following prior conditions are excluded:

History of allergy or intolerance to G-CSF.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

  • Any prior Ara-C.

Excluded within 14 days prior to study:

  • Ganciclovir or foscarnet.
  • Interferon.
  • Antiretroviral medications other than AZT, ddI, or ddC.
  • Experimental medications for treatment of PML.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

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.

Life expectancy

The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Enrollment
90 participants
06

Study locations

9 sites
  • University of Colorado Hospital CRS
    Aurora, Colorado 80262, United States
  • Univ. of Miami AIDS CRS
    Miami, Florida 331361013, United States
  • Northwestern University CRS
    Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
  • Johns Hopkins Adult AIDS CRS
    Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
  • Massachusetts General Hospital ACTG CRS
    Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
  • Washington U CRS
    Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
  • Univ. of Rochester ACTG CRS
    Rochester, New York 14642, United States
  • Unc Aids Crs
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina 275997215, United States
  • University of Washington AIDS CRS
    Seattle, Washington 981224304, United States
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Cytarabine nixed for PML. GMHC Treat Issues. 1996 Nov;10(11):9. PubMed 11364014 ↗
  • Post MJ, Yiannoutsos C, Simpson D, Booss J, Clifford DB, Cohen B, McArthur JC, Hall CD. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in AIDS: are there any MR findings useful to patient management and predictive of patient survival? AIDS Clinical Trials Group, 243 Team. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1999 Nov-Dec;20(10):1896-906. PubMed 10588116 ↗
  • Hall C, Timpone J, Dafni I, Antonijevic Z, Millar L, Booss J, Clifford D, Cohen B, McArthur J, Hollander H. ARA-C treatment of PML in AIDS patients. Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect.1997 Jan 22-26;4th:66 (abstract no 8)PMID: 97926517
  • Yiannoutsos CT, Major EO, Curfman B, Jensen PN, Gravell M, Hou J, Clifford DB, Hall CD. Relation of JC virus DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid to survival in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients with biopsy-proven progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Ann Neurol. 1999 Jun;45(6):816-21. doi: 10.1002/1531-8249(199906)45:63.0.co;2-w. PubMed 10360779 ↗
  • Hall CD, Dafni U, Simpson D, Clifford D, Wetherill PE, Cohen B, McArthur J, Hollander H, Yainnoutsos C, Major E, Millar L, Timpone J. Failure of cytarabine in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. AIDS Clinical Trials Group 243 Team. N Engl J Med. 1998 May 7;338(19):1345-51. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199805073381903. PubMed 9571254 ↗
  • Crit Path AIDS Proj 1994-95 Winer; (No 30): 28-29. A phase II Multicenter Study Comparing Antiretroviral Therapy Alone to Antiretroviral Therapy Plku Cytosine Arabinosine (Cytarabine; Ara-C) for the Treatment of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected Subjects. .
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
NCT00001048
Collaborators
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Upjohn
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 31, 2001
Completion
Apr 1997
Last update
Nov 1, 2021

Study contacts

Hall C
study chair
Timpone J
study chair
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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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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Discussion

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Studies of the drug tested here: Cytarabine

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