Double Blind Study of Thymopentin Effects on Patients With HIV-1 Infection

Examine the ability of thymopentin (Timunox) to:

Reduce the amount and/or frequency of virus isolation. Stimulate the immune system and alter the clinical findings in patients infected with HIV who do not yet have AIDS.

Inclusion Criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

• Aerosolized pentamidine.

Prior Medication:

Allowed:

• Aerosolized pentamidine.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with an abnormal chest x-ray indicative of active disease (opportunistic infection) within 30 days prior to entry are excluded.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded within 90 days of study entry:

• Zidovudine (AZT).

Prior Medication:

Excluded within 30 days of study entry:

• Immunomodulatory or experimental therapy.
• Excluded within 90 days of study entry:
• Zidovudine (AZT).

Patients must not have:

• Hemophilia A or B or other hematologic disorders requiring current or previous administration of blood products.
• AIDS as defined by the CDC (except for those with HIV "wasting syndrome").
• Significant hepatic disease.
• Thrombocytopenia (< 75000 platelets/mm3).

Patient must voluntarily sign consent and be seropositive for HIV-1 (ELISA assay) confirmed by Western blot.

• HIV-1 p24 antigen must be detected in supernatant fluids from co-cultures of patient's peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) on two separate occasions.
• Patients with HIV "wasting syndrome" are included.

Intravenous drug abuse.