The purpose of this study is to look at how 2 different anti-HIV drug treatments affect the liver.

The use of anti-HIV drugs like the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) may be linked to liver problems like fatty changes, scarring, abnormal liver function tests (LFTs), and lactic acidemia (an increase in lactic acid in the blood). Increased liver enzymes may mean liver damage. The way that the liver changes in people with abnormal LFTs and lactic acidemia is not completely understood.

This study provides a unique opportunity to prospectively assess the relationship of lactic acidemia with liver dysfunction and to determine whether lactic acidemia and liver dysfunction are likely to be secondary to NRTI-induced mitochondrial toxicity. If lactic acidemia and hepatic fatty infiltration (steatosis) in this study population are secondary to NRTI-induced mitochondrial toxicity, withdrawal of NRTI medications can be expected to result in partial improvement or resolution of these findings. Furthermore, this study will examine the possible additive ill effects of NRTI-induced mitochondrial toxicity on liver function in individuals coinfected with hepatitis C.

This study is designed both as a stand-alone ACTG protocol providing an NRTI-sparing regimen and as a study coenrollable simultaneously with A5116.

Patients enrolling in A5133 as a stand-alone study: Patients on NRTI-containing regimens with elevated lactates and ALTs are enrolled into a single open-label NRTI-sparing treatment regimen of efavirenz (EFV) plus lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), which are provided by the study. These patients follow virologic failure/toxicity management guidelines as detailed in the protocol.

Patients coenrolling in A5116: Patients are studied on their assigned A5116 antiretroviral regimens with medication as provided by A5116. Those randomized in A5116 to the NRTI-sparing regimen of EFV and LPV/r identical to that offered by A5133 will be assessed together with patients who entered A5133 as a stand-alone study. Individuals assigned in A5116 to the continued NRTI arm of 2NRTIs plus EFV are enrolled into a separate observational arm of A5133. The impact of continued NRTI therapy on liver histology is assessed in this observational arm. Virologic failure/toxicity management is in accordance with the A5116 protocol. The definition of virologic failure in A5116 is identical to the definition used in A5133.

Arm 1 consists of patients assigned to an NRTI-sparing regimen without evidence of HCV coinfection.

Arm 2 consists of patients assigned to an NRTI-sparing regimen with evidence of HCV coinfection.

Arm 3 consists of patients coenrolled in the NRTI-containing arm of A5116 with or without evidence of HCV coinfection.

All patients are evaluated for safety and for virologic and immunologic responses. In addition, individuals undergo liver biopsy and upper abdominal CT scans within 30 days prior to entry and within 30 days prior to week 24. The biopsied tissue is reviewed for evidence of fatty infiltration, inflammation, and fibrosis. The CT scans are assessed for degree of fatty infiltration. If sufficient liver tissue is available, the biopsied tissue will be assessed for other parameters. Plasma, PBMCs, and sera are collected to explore the role of oxidative stress and other parameters in the development of hepatic fatty infiltration (steatosis) and hyperlactatemia. The effect of changes in liver fatty infiltration and plasma lactate on lipoproteins will be explored. Finally, PBMC mtDNA content will be correlated with liver mtDNA content.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients may be eligible for this study if they:

• Have a higher than normal level of lactic acid and liver enzymes in blood within 45 days prior to study entry.
• Are HIV infected.
• Have been receiving an anti-HIV drug combination containing an NRTI for more than 12 months continuously before entering the study.
• Have an HIV viral load (amount of HIV in the blood) of less than 200 copies/ml within 70 days prior to study entry.
• Have a negative pregnancy test within 45 days prior to study entry.
• Agree to use 2 approved methods of birth control while participating in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy, while receiving study medications and for 6 weeks after stopping the medications, both men and women and their partners, if able to have children.
• Are at least 13 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients will not be eligible for this study if they:

• Have hepatitis B according to certain lab tests.
• Have known causes for liver disease other than HCV or anti-HIV therapy.
• Regularly and excessively use alcohol.
• Are unwilling to restrict alcohol use to the amount allowed during the study.
• Have untreated endocrine disease such as diabetes and Cushing's disease. Diabetes that is under good control, stable hypothyroidism on replacement therapy, and stable hypogonadism on replacement therapy will be allowed.
• Receive prednisone within 1 month of study entry or high levels of prednisone (greater than 10 mg/day) within 90 days of study entry.
• Have had poorly controlled congestive heart failure within the last 12 months.
• Have signs and symptoms of abnormal liver function.
• Are unwilling to have a liver biopsy.
• Have a swollen abdomen due to accumulated fluid.
• Are suspected of having liver cancer.
• Are pregnant and breast-feeding.
• Abuse drugs.
• Have a serious illness within 14 days prior to entry.
• Have an AIDS-related (opportunistic) infection or illness at the time of study entry.
• Have HIV resistance to certain anti-HIV drugs.
• Have a history of failing treatment with PI-containing drugs (not due to side effects of the drug).
• Have previously received NNRTI medications (except for current drug combination that is successful).
• Have used certain drugs within 30 days prior to study entry.
• Are allergic to any of the study drugs.
• Are receiving or may need to receive treatment for hepatitis C during the study.
• Have previously enrolled in A5116.