The safety and efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil in patients with advanced HIV disease: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil (adefovir) added to background antiretroviral therapy in advanced HIV disease.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial.


METHODS
Fifteen clinical trial units providing HIV primary care.


METHODS
Adults with CD4 cell count < or = 100 x 10(6)/l, or 101-200 x 10(6)/l with prior nadir < or = 50 x 10(6)/l.


METHODS
Oral adefovir or placebo 120 mg once daily.


METHODS
Survival, cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, plasma HIV-RNA, CD4 cell count, grade 4 drug toxicity, permanent drug discontinuation due to toxicity.


RESULTS
Among the 253 patients assigned adefovir and the 252 assigned placebo, respectively, 17 and 16 died (P = 0.88), and four and eight experienced CMV disease (P = 0.25). Mean change in log(10) plasma HIV-RNA in the adefovir and placebo groups, respectively, was 0.09 and -0.03 copies/ml at 6 months (P = 0.22) and 0.06 and -0.02 at 12 months (P = 0.87). Changes in CD4 cell counts were not different between groups. At 12 months the cumulative percent with proximal renal tubular dysfunction (PRTD) was 17% in the adefovir group and 0.4% in the placebo group (P < 0.0001, log rank test). Median time to resolution of PRTD was 15 weeks among patients assigned adefovir, and 16% of patients did not resolve completely 41 weeks after onset. More drug discontinuations occurred in the adefovir group than in the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
No virologic or immunologic benefit was observed when adefovir was added to background antiretroviral therapy in advanced HIV disease, and adefovir was associated with considerable nephrotoxicity. This study does not support the use of adefovir for treatment of advanced HIV disease in pretreated patients.
Fisher
E J
EJ
Richmond AIDS Consortium, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0049, USA.
Chaloner
K
K
Cohn
D L
DL
Grant
L B
LB
Alston
B
B
Brosgart
C L
CL
Schmetter
B
B
El-Sadr
W M
WM
Sampson
J
J
D000225:Adenine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D063065:Organophosphonates; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D063065:Organophosphonates; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; C053001:adefovir; D000225:Adenine