Administration of Growth Hormone to Increase CD4+ Count in Patients Taking Anti-HIV Drugs

After initiation of HAART, many HIV infected patients have significant improvement in CD4+ levels. However, some patients continue to have low CD4+ counts (< 350 cells/mm3) despite adequate viral suppression. The purpose of this study is to determine whether administration of GH will increase naïve CD4+ production. Further, the study will assess whether an increase in naïve CD4+ production will lead to increases in antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

Patients enrolled in this study will be randomized to one of two groups. Patients in both groups will continue their present HAART regimen for the duration of the study. Group A patients will receive daily subcutaneous injections of GH for 48 weeks. Group B participants will receive no additional therapy for 24 weeks, and will then receive daily subcutaneous GH injections during Weeks 24-28 of the study. Both groups will receive immunocyanin (keyhole-limpet hemocyanin) injections at Weeks 16 and 20 and hepatitis A vaccination at Weeks 40 and 44. At the conclusion of Week 48, all patients will discontinue GH therapy while maintaining their HAART regimen. Patients will then be followed for an additional 24 weeks.

Patients may be asked to participate in a substudy to measure the size of the thymus in people taking GH. Patients in the substudy will have a noncontrast CT scan of the chest before beginning GH therapy and again after 24 weeks of GH therapy.

Inclusion criteria

• HIV positive
• Minimum of 1 year of treatment with HAART
• CD4+ cell count <350 cells/mm3
• HIV-1 RNA <400 copies/ml for 6 months prior to study entry
• Acceptable methods of contraception

Exclusion criteria

• Serious medical illness requiring hospitalization within 14 days prior to study entry
• Pregnant or breast-feeding
• Taking certain medications
• Allergy to r-hGH, hepatitis A vaccine, KLH, or their formulations, including allergies to shellfish
• Active drug or alcohol dependence
• Diabetes or uncontrolled hyperglycemia
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• History of carpal tunnel syndrome
• Active neoplasm requiring treatment