IHV Clinical Trials

Clinical, Immunologic and Pharmacologic Consequences of Kidney Transplantation in People with HIV Infection

This research study is being conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of kidney transplants in persons living with HIV infection. Candidates must be HIV-positive and have end-stage renal (kidney) disease.

People with HIV infection are at risk for kidney disease for the same reasons that people without HIV infection get these diseases, and also because of HIV-related kidney disease. Up until recently, people with HIV infection have often not been offered a transplant because of concerns that the immune system suppression (immunosuppression) required for organ transplantation might worsen the patient's HIV infection. However, due to improvements in the treatment of HIV, resulting in improved overall health and long-term survival, HIV-infected patients may now be better candidates for a kidney transplant in terms of the safety of the immunosuppressive medications.

The main questions being studied include:

1. What is the impact of kidney transplantation and post-transplant medications (immunosuppressives) on HIV disease progression and markers of immune function?
2. Does HIV infection affect the transplanted kidney and survival?
3. How do the drugs used to treat HIV infection and the immunosuppresives interact with each other in the body?

Approximately 75 people will be enrolled in this preliminary study over a three-year period at medical research centers throughout the United States. Total study participation will be five years from the time of the transplant

POC:
Sandy Zaremba, RN, CCRC - 410-706-1476
e-mail: zaremba@umbi.umd.edu

Related Information on IHV.org

• Kidney Transplant Patient Returns Home(Feature Story)
  A decade ago, Derek Kee, would never have imagined being the recipient of a kidney transplant. But then, at the age of 21, he was diagnosed with HIV. And life would never be the same. more>
  
  
• Kidney Transplants Available To HIV-Positive Patients
  (News Release, September 3, 2002)