Effects of Treatment Changes on Fat Wasting in the Arms and Legs of HIV Patients

A Restrictively Randomized, Open-Label, Controlled, Pilot Study of the Effect of a Thymidine Analogue Substitution or Change to a Nucleoside-Sparing Regimen on Peripheral Fat Wasting

The goals of this study are to find out if fat wasting and weight loss in the arms and legs of HIV patients taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are caused by nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and if wasting can be reversed if the NRTI is stopped and replaced with other anti-HIV drugs.

Recent studies suggest body shape changes, fat redistribution, and fat lipoatrophy may be related to the NRTI component of patients' HAART and not to the protease inhibitor (PI) component. The hypothesis of this study is that thymidine analogues such as stavudine (d4T) and zidovudine (ZDV) cause lipoatrophy more so than non-thymidine analogues and that removal of thymidine analogues from HAART in patients with defined lipoatrophy will reverse this process.

In Step 1, patients will undergo axial mid-thigh and abdomen computer tomography (CT) scans. If the CT scans are readable, patients are restrictively and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment arms in Step 2. Patients in Arm A-1 will replace the thymidine analogue component (stavudine [d4T] or zidovudine [ZDV]) of their HAART with abacavir (ABC). Patients in Arm B-1 will discontinue their current HAART and will receive a PI and a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), either lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) and nevirapine (NVP) or atazanavir, ritonavir, and NVP. Patients currently on efavirenz (EFV) not provided by the study may choose to continue with EFV instead of switching to NVP. Comparisons will be made to the baseline values of subcutaneous fat measured by mid-thigh and abdominal CT. Patients in Arms A-1 and B-1 remain on study for a total of 48 weeks and do not advance to Step 3.

Two additional groups (Arms A-2 and B-2) made no changes to HAART for 28 weeks to evaluate the natural history of change in lipoatrophy over time; accrual into these groups and into Step 3 has been discontinued. At Week 28, patients in Arms A-2 and B-2 were registered to Step 3 and switched from HAART to a designated new treatment. Arm A-2 patients will replace d4T or ZDV with ABC for 48 weeks. Arm B-2 patients replace their HAART with LPV/r plus NVP for 48 weeks. If patients in Arms A-2 and B-2 have not completed the 28-week delay and have not switched regimens, they will enter Step 4 and be reregistered into Arms A-1 and B-1, respectively, remaining on their treatment assignment for 48 weeks. If patients in Arms A-2 and B-2 have already switched regimens, then they will continue on their new regimens until Week 76.

Note: accrual into Arms A-2 and B-2 of this study has been discontinued.

Inclusion Criteria for Step 1

• HIV infected
• Experiencing a loss of fat since starting anti-HIV therapy, especially in the arms and legs
• Receiving anti-HIV therapy of 3 or more drugs, including either stavudine or zidovudine, for 24 weeks or more prior to study screening
• Viral load less than 500 copies/ml at study screening and within 60 days prior to study entry
• CD4 count of 100 or more cells/mm3 obtained within 60 days prior to study entry
• Approved methods of contraception
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria for Step 1

• Currently receiving abacavir sulfate or have received abacavir sulfate in the past AND any or all of the following: unable to tolerate lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) or nevirapine (NVP); failed anti-HIV treatment containing LPV/r, any other 2 PIs, or any other NNRTI; taking lamivudine (3TC) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) for hepatitis B virus infection and need to remain on a 3TC- or TDF-containing regimen; or have a low chance of response to LPV/r plus NVP
• Cancer treatment 6 months prior to study entry
• Initiated oral drugs to lower blood sugar level 24 weeks prior to study entry. Patients who have taken oral drugs to lower their blood sugar levels for 24 weeks or more prior to study entry are eligible.
• Began therapy with male sex hormones 24 weeks prior to study entry. Patients who have had continuous, stable therapy with male sex hormones for 24 weeks or more prior to study entry are eligible.
• Certain medications within 14 days prior to study entry
• Serious illness within 14 days prior to study entry
• Hepatitis within 60 days prior to study entry
• Thyroid problems
• Drug or alcohol use which, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the study
• Currently using experimental agents except when approved by the study
• Pregnant or breastfeeding