title: A double-blind placebo-controlled phase II trial of thalidomide in asymptomatic HIV-positive patients: clinical tolerance and effect on activation markers and cytokines.
abstract: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to determine the safety, efficacy, and effect of thalidomide on a variety of immunological and biochemical parameters in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. Nineteen male patients with elevated markers of immune activation and CD4 cell counts above 400/mm3 were randomized to either placebo or thalidomide at 100 mg/day for 24 weeks. However, only 3 (of 10) patients receiving thalidomide completed all 24 weeks compared to 6 (of 9) patients receiving placebo. This was mainly due to fatigue (somnolence is a recognized side effect), although this was also seen to a lesser extent in the placebo group and so may not be drug attributable. No significant changes in CD4/CD8 count, activation markers, TNF-alpha, or TNFR1 were observed. However, a nonsignificant trend toward inhibition of mitogen-induced TNF-alpha production was observed in the thalidomide arm. The lack of systemic effect and the lower tolerance of thalidomide (at this dose) in asymptomatic patients highlights the need for pharmacokinetic analysis to address possible absorption problems and the need for more potent and less toxic TNF-alpha inhibitors to be developed for use in this type of study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, Tooting, London, UK.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Marriott
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carlin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Youle
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gazzard
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Dalgleish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019798:Neopterin / Q000378:metabolism; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D013792:Thalidomide; D019798:Neopterin; D007371:Interferon-gamma