Treatment of Acyclovir-Resistant Mucocutaneous Herpes Simplex Disease in Patients With AIDS: Open Label Pilot Study of Topical Trifluridine

Overview

To determine the safety, effectiveness, and toxicity of topical (local) trifluridine in treating mucocutaneous (at the nasal, oral, vaginal, and anal openings) Herpes simplex virus ( HSV ) disease that has shown resistance to acyclovir in HIV-infected patients. HSV infection in patients with AIDS is often associated with skin sores and frequent recurrences. Treatment with the drug acyclovir results in healing for most patients, but repeated treatment sometimes results in resistance of the virus to acyclovir. Thus, when this happens, other treatments need to be used. Trifluridine is an antiviral drug that is used for the treatment of Herpes infections that occur in the eye. This study attempts to determine if trifluridine is useful for treating HSV sores that have not healed after treatment with acyclovir.

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: None (Open Label)

Detailed Description

HSV infection in patients with AIDS is often associated with skin sores and frequent recurrences. Treatment with the drug acyclovir results in healing for most patients, but repeated treatment sometimes results in resistance of the virus to acyclovir. Thus, when this happens, other treatments need to be used. Trifluridine is an antiviral drug that is used for the treatment of Herpes infections that occur in the eye. This study attempts to determine if trifluridine is useful for treating HSV sores that have not healed after treatment with acyclovir. Patients receive at least 10 days (and up to 42 days) of treatment with topical trifluridine. Trifluridine is applied in a thin fluid layer that overlaps the edges of the lesion. Polymyxin B sulfate/bacitracin zinc ointment is then applied over the trifluridine. Lesions are covered by a nonabsorbent dressing. Medication is applied every 8 hours.

Interventions

  • Drug: Trifluridine
  • Drug: Bacitracin zinc/Polymyxin B sulfate

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Included:

  • All medications deemed essential for best patient care, including zidovudine (AZT), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis, and acute or maintenance therapies for other opportunistic infections. Patients must have the following: – HIV infection or diagnosis of AIDS. – Mucocutaneous Herpes simplex virus infection. – Ability to give informed consent. Allowed: – Patients may be co-enrolled in other ACTG studies except for those in which treatments are expected to generate neutropenia. Subjects aged 13 – 17 may be enrolled with appropriate consent from parent or guardian. Exclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Excluded: – Acyclovir, ganciclovir, foscarnet, vidarabine or other investigational drugs with potential anti-Herpes simplex virus activity. Patients with the following are excluded: – Previous hypersensitivity reaction to trifluridine, polymyxin B or bacitracin. Prior Medication: Excluded: – Immunomodulators, lymphocyte replacement therapy or biologic response modifiers within 14 days prior to study entry.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 13 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
  • Collaborator
    • Glaxo Wellcome
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Kessler H A, Study Chair,

References

Kessler H, Weaver D, Benson C, Pottage J, Safrin S, Nevin T, Davis R, Owens S, Korvick J. ACTG 172: treatment of acyclovir-resistant (ACV-R) mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in patients with AIDS: open label pilot study of topical trifluridine (TFT). Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24;8(1):We55 (abstract no WeB 1056)

Kessler HA, Hurwitz S, Farthing C, Benson CA, Feinberg J, Kuritzkes DR, Bailey TC, Safrin S, Steigbigel RT, Cheeseman SH, McKinley GF, Wettlaufer B, Owens S, Nevin T, Korvick JA. Pilot study of topical trifluridine for the treatment of acyclovir-resistant mucocutaneous herpes simplex disease in patients with AIDS (ACTG 172). AIDS Clinical Trials Group. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1996 Jun 1;12(2):147-52. doi: 10.1097/00042560-199606010-00007.

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