Study of Itraconazole in Patients With Advanced HIV Infection

Patients will receive intravenous itraconazole solution twice daily for 2 days and then once daily for five additional days. Patients then randomized to receive twice-daily or once-daily itraconazole oral solution for an additional 28 days.

Inclusion criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

Antiretroviral therapy providing patient has already been on a stable, unchanged regimen for 8 weeks prior to study entry.

Patients must have:

• Documented HIV infection.
• CD4 lymphocyte count < 300 cells/mm3.
• No clinically significant abnormalities, elicited by history and physical examination.
• No clinically significant abnormalities in blood count, biochemical profile, or urinalysis within 2 weeks of study entry.
• Negative urine screening.
• No clinically significant abnormalities of electrocardiogram.

Prior Medication:

Allowed:

Antiretroviral therapy providing patient has been on a stable, unchanged regimen for 8 weeks prior to study entry.

Exclusion criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following symptoms and conditions are excluded:

• Acute opportunistic infection or other significant concurrent illness that would preclude participation for the required 36 days.
• Unable to swallow oral solution.
• Obesity greater than 25% of ideal body weight.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

• Rifampin.
• Rifabutin.
• Phenobarbital.
• Phenytoin.
• Carbamazepine.
• Digoxin.
• Warfarin.
• Midazolam.
• Triazolam.
• Terfenadine.
• Astemizole.
• Cisapride.
• H2 blockers.
• Omeprazole.
• Continual antacids.
• Didanosine.
• Any medication known to affect absorption, metabolism or excretion of imidazole or azole compounds.

Patients with the following prior symptoms and conditions are excluded:

• Previous hypersensitivity to azole antifungals.
• History of surgical procedure that may interfere with absorption of itraconazole.
• History of significant blood loss in the previous 30 days.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

Excluded within 15 days prior to study entry:

• Rifampin.
• Rifabutin.
• Phenobarbital.
• Phenytoin.
• Carbamazepine.
• Digoxin.
• Warfarin.
• Midazolam.
• Triazolam.

Excluded within 8 weeks prior to study entry:

• Change in antiretroviral therapy.

Risk Behavior:

Excluded:

Patients who chew tobacco or regularly smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day.