A Study of Zidovudine in Infants Exposed to the HIV Before or Soon After Birth

Of a total of 908 pediatric AIDS cases, 78 percent have acquired HIV infection from a mother with HIV infection or at high risk for acquisition of HIV, and the number of cases in children is expected to increase over the next several years. AZT therapy may be effective in altering the course of the disease and decreasing the high mortality in these children. It is also possible that early intervention with AZT may prevent the establishment of HIV contracted before, during, or just after birth.

The children entered in this study receive oral and IV AZT. The first 6 children receive 2 IV doses and 2 oral doses over a 2-week period, then 4 weeks of continuous oral dosing (4 doses per day). The remaining 12 children receive

1 IV dose and 1 oral dose followed by 6 weeks of oral AZT (4 doses per day) and a second IV dose at the end of the study. Each child is under the care of a specialist in pediatrics and has a physical examination and laboratory tests before starting AZT and 6 times while taking AZT to make sure the drug is not having a toxic effect on the child. A single cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample is taken from the last 12 children entering the study, so that the level of the AZT reaching the brain can be measured. The child returns to the hospital or clinic 4 weeks after the end of therapy to make sure that there are no delayed toxic effects.

Inclusion criteria

Infant gestation period must have been = or > 36 weeks and birthweight must = or > 2000 grams. Active infection must not be present at the time of entry into the study although an HIV culture or P24 serum antigen determination must be obtained prior to study entry. The child must have a life expectancy greater than 3 months. Parents or guardian must be available to give informed consent.

Prior Medication:

Allowed on a case-by-case basis:

• Some essential supportive therapies including antibiotics.

Exclusion criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following conditions or symptoms are excluded:

• Any of the following laboratory findings within 2 weeks of study entry.
• A total bilirubin > 2 times age-adjusted upper limit of normal.
• Liver transaminase values > 3 x upper limit of normal.
• Serum creatinine > 1.5 x upper limit of normal.
• Total granulocyte count < 1500 cells/mm3.
• Hemoglobin < 10 g/dl or hemoglobinopathy.
• A urine toxicology screen positive for any drug or chemical.
• Infants must not have hemoglobinopathy or active infection at entry.

Prior Medication:

Excluded within 2 months of study entry:

• Antiretroviral agents.
• Excluded within 4 weeks of study entry:
• Immunomodulating agents including steroids, interferon, isoprinosine, and interleukin.
• Immunoglobulin.
• Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry:
• Any other experimental therapy, drugs which cause prolonged neutropenia or significant nephrotoxicity, or rifampin / rifampin derivatives.
• Some essential supportive therapies including antibiotics may have infrequent or transient effects. These drugs will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Prior Treatment:

Excluded within 2 weeks of study entry:

• Red blood cells or whole blood transfusion.
• Excluded within 4 weeks of study entry:
• Lymphocyte transfusions for immune reconstitution.

Infants may not be entered into the study during the first 2 weeks of life if their mother received methadone therapy during the last trimester of her pregnancy or used any known illicit drug. A maternal urine toxicology screen may be optionally performed prior to entry of the child, and children whose mothers have a screen which is positive for any drugs or chemicals may not be enrolled within 2 weeks of the positive screen.