Effectiveness of Zidovudine vs. Zidovudine Plus Alpha Interferon vs. Interferon for Treatment of HIV

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Over 18 years of age.

T4 lymphocyte count greater than or equal to 500/mm3.

Infection with HIV as documented by positive ELISA and Western blot and positive HIV culture or positive p24 antigen or positive polymerase chain reaction.

Absence of current opportunistic infection (defined for purposes of this study as: candidiasis, cryptosporidiosis, mycobacterial infection, persistent herpes simplex infection, isosporiasis, cytomegalovirus infection, toxoplasmosis, pneumocystosis, salmonellosis, and cryptococcosis). Routine clinical methods and observations shall be performed to exclude such patients.

Patients must be afebrile (Temperature less the 38 degrees Centigrade orally) without antipyretics for at least 72 hours prior to enrollment.

Performance status 0, 1, or 2.

Relatively stable clinical condition, with no deterioration of performance status in the month prior to enrollment.

Ability to give informed consent and willing to comply with all procedures and visits scheduled.

Suitability of I.V. access for the scheduled blood tests.

Normal renal function as defined by BUN less than or equal to 30 and creatinine less than or equal to 1.5.

Normal hepatic function with transaminases and alkaline phosphatase less than 5 times the upper limit of normal range.

Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 10 gm/dl, total granulocyte count greater than or equal to 1250/mm(3), platelet count greater than or equal to 125,000/mm(3).

No previous therapy for KS within the month prior to enrollment, and no prior exposure to investigational agents. Prior exposure to AZT will not disqualify a patient, however patients will be stratified on this basis.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients with malignancy other than Kaposi's sarcoma are specifically excluded from this study.

Pregnant women, nursing mothers, or women of childbearing potential who are not employing effective means of contraception or abstinence.

Patients who currently use illicit drugs.

Patients receiving systemically and potentially myelosuppressive drugs (such as TMP/SMX, pyrimethamine-sulfa or DHPG), nephrotoxic agents (such as amphotericin B or aminoglycosides), or cytotoxic or experimental chemotherapy.

Patients with a history of significant depressive disorder.

Patients with a history of an AIDS-defining opportunistic infection.

After enrollment, a patient will be excluded from further participation in the study for any of the following reasons:

Serious infection not cleared by antibiotic therapy. The occurrence of a life-threatening infection, whether or not considered to be opportunistic, will prompt a discontinuation of therapy during the infection and for 2 weeks following its successful resolution. Therapy will then be re-initiated unless (1) in the investigator's judgment re-treatment with either or both of the study medications would be contraindicated for other reasons or (2) therapy had been held for more than 6 weeks.

Decrease in percent CD4 to less than 20 percent or in absolute CD4 count to less than 200/mm(3) on 3 consecutive blood tests.

Systemic allergic reaction to either study medication, characterized by angioedema, bronchial constriction, or anaphylaxis.

It is the principal investigator's judgment that the patient is too ill to continue in the trial.

Toxicity necessitating withdrawal.

Patient non-compliance: A patient who is not taking medication as directed or who is not keeping appointments will not be allowed to continue on this study.

Rapid or life-threatening progression of KS such that the principal investigator believes other therapies would be in the patient's best interest.

Voluntary withdrawal: A patient may remove himself from study at any time. The patient will be allowed to withdraw without prejudice.

Termination of the study by the principal investigator, sponsor, or the FDA.