Accurate Staging of Immuno-virological Dynamics During Acute HIV Infection

Overview

In this prospective longitudinal study we aim to assess how immunologic and viral aspects of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral reservoir, established during early HIV infection and responsible for viral rebound at treatment interruption, evolve in individuals who start combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) during acute seroconversion. Recently infected patients will be selected based on Fiebig staging for an in depth sampling protocol at different timepoints during a 2 year follow up period. Colonbiopsies, lymphnode resection, lumbar puncture, leucapheresis and repeated peripheral venous blood-draws will be performed. Immunological, virological and genome expression analysis will be performed on the gathered samples.

Interventions

• Drug Early combination anti-retroviral treatment
  Patients are started on treatment to supress the HIV virus in the phase of acute seroconversion.

Primary outcome measures

• Evolution of virological and immunological parameters of the HIV reservoir in recently infected HIV positive patients that started treatment during acute seroconversion. [Time frame: 10 years]

Secondary outcome measures (1)

• Evolution of microbiome in recently infected HIV positive patients that started treatment during acute seroconversion. [Time frame: 10 years]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Documented recent HIV-1 infection, early diagnosis: clinical symptoms of acute seroconversion and incomplete Western Blot OR negative screening test within the past 6 months and incomplete Western Blot OR risk contact within the 3 months and presumable primo-infection with or without clinical symptoms and incomplete Western Blot
• Able and willing to provide written informed consent
• Ability to attend the complete schedule of assessments and patient visits for patients participating in option A schedule (described below), or ability to attend a partial schedule of assessments and patient visits for patients participating in option B (described below).
• Ability and willingness to have blood and tissue samples collected and stored indefinitely and used for various research purposes.

Exclusion criteria

• Previous or current history of opportunistic infection (AIDS defining events as defined in category C of the CDC clinical classification), consisting of chronic HIV-1 infection.
• Evidence of active HBV infection (Hepatitis B surface antigen positive or HBV viral load positive in the past and no evidence of subsequent seroconversion (=HBV antigen or viral load negative and positive HBV surface antibody).
• Evidence of active HCV infection: HCV antibody positive result within 60 days prior to study entry with positive HCV viral load or, if the HCV antibody result is negative, a positive HCV RNA result within 60 days prior to study entry.
• Current or known history of cardiomyopathy or significant ischemic or cerebrovascular disease.
• Current history of cancer.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Any conditions, including psychiatric and psychological disorders, which will in the opinion of the investigator interfere with the trial conduct or safety of the participant.
• Previous participation in a trial evaluating an immune modulating agent
• Abnormal laboratory tests results at screening: confirmed Hemoglobin <11g/dl for women and <12 g:dl for men/ confirmed platelet count < 100000/l / confirmed neutrophil count <1000/μl/ confirmed AST and/or ALT > 3xULN
• Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
• Acute or serious illness, in the opinion of the site investigator, requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization within 60 days prior to entry.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Observational model

Cohort

Study locations

Belgium · 1 center

• UZ Gent — Ghent

Identifiers

NCT: NCT03449706 · ACS

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗