Changes in Lipids and Safety of Raltegravir in HIV+ Patients With Hyperlipidemia While on Current Standard Therapy
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00887653 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : April 24, 2009
Results First Posted : October 10, 2014
Last Update Posted : October 10, 2014
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The success of combination antiretroviral therapy heralded a revolution in the treatment of HIV in the mid-1990s. However, severe treatment-associated side effects have been observed including diabetes and increased cholesterol which are linked to premature heart attacks. This effect has been described among many regimens containing protease inhibitors (PIs), as well as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Raltegravir is a new medicine which has been shown to be potent and efficacious in suppression of the HIV. This study hopes to determine if switching from a PI or NNRTI to raltegravir will decrease cholesterol in subjects with high cholesterol and well controlled HIV. In addition, the study aims to confirm that raltegravir is safe and well tolerated. It also seeks to confirm if raltegravir will have similar anti-HIV activity compared with the patient's previous regimen.
The study will last 6 months and will involve 20 subjects. HIV-1 infected men and women on PIs or NNRTIs for at least 12 months before study entry with well controlled HIV will be recruited.
Hypotheses:
- Patients with elevated lipid levels while on combination antiretroviral therapy with PIs or NNRTIs will experience an improvement in lipid levels after switching their PI or NNRTI to a raltegravir based regimen.
- Raltegravir will be safe and well tolerated.
- Raltegravir will have similar antiretroviral activity compared with the prior regimen.
Primary Objective:
To demonstrate an improvement in lipid profile (triglycerides or LDL) in subjects switched to raltegravir from PIs or NNRTIs at 2, 3, and 6 months after study entry.
Study Design: Subjects will be given the option to switch from their current regimen to raltegravir at 400mg twice daily. Those who consent, will receive raltegravir provided by the study for 6 months. At entry, the subjects will undergo a complete physical exam and thereafter targeted exams at each visit. Labs will be drawn as part of clinical care at 2, 3, and 6 months. Some of the blood will be stored for later analysis. Also, the subjects will answer regular surveys on drug toxicity and quality of life. Their cholesterol level will be compared before and after the study. At the end of the study, the participants may choose to continue on raltegravir if they desire.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
HIV Hyperlipidemia Hypertriglyceridemia HIV Infections | Drug: raltegravir | Phase 3 |
The success of combination antiretroviral therapy heralded a revolution in the management of patients with HIV in the mid-1990s. Increasingly, severe treatment-associated metabolic side effects have been observed and linked to premature coronary artery disease. This effect has been described among many regimens containing protease inhibitors (PIs) as well as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).
Raltegravir is a novel HIV-1 integrase inhibitor which in a comparison study with efavirenz has been shown to be potent and efficacious in suppression of the HIV-1. Minimal side effects were reported which mainly included nausea, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, and insomnia.
Hypotheses:
- Patients with elevated lipid levels while on combination antiretroviral therapy with PIs or NNRTIs will experience an improvement in lipid levels after switching their PI or NNRTI to a raltegravir based regimen.
- Raltegravir will be safe and well tolerated.
- Raltegravir will have similar antiretroviral activity compared with the prior regimen.
Primary Objective:
To demonstrate an improvement in triglycerides or LDL in subjects switched to raltegravir from PIs or NNRTIs at 2 months, 3 months, and 6 months after study entry.
Secondary Objectives:
To assess the immunologic and virologic outcomes in subjects switched to raltegravir from PIs or NNRTIs at 2, 3, and 6 months after entry.
Study Design:
This will be a single arm study where subjects will be given the option to switch from their current regimen to raltegravir at 400mg twice daily.
Primary endpoint: Change from baseline LDL and change from baseline triglycerides at 3 months, adjusted for BMI and smoking status.
The subjects' plasma viral load before and after switching will be compared with a paired t test at each time point.
The subjects' CD4+ T cell count will be compared with a paired t test before and after switching.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 20 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Changes in Lipid Profiles and Safety of Raltegravir Based Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-1-infected Patients With Hyperlipidemia While on Current Standard Therapy |
Study Start Date : | May 2009 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 2012 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | April 2014 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Raltegravir
This is a single arm study where HIV-infected individuals virologically suppressed on current regimen will be switched to raltegravir +optimized back ground regimen for 6 months
|
Drug: raltegravir
This will be a single arm study where subjects will be given the option to switch from their current regimen to raltegravir at 400mg twice daily.
Other Name: Isentress |
- Change From Baseline Triglycerides [ Time Frame: 3 months ]Assess changes from baseline triglycerides at 3 months
- Change From Baseline Triglycerides [ Time Frame: 6 months ]Assess changes from baseline triglycerides at 6 months
- Proportion of Patients With Plasma Viral Load Below the Limit of Detection [ Time Frame: 6 months ]Assess proportion of patients with PVL below limit of detection at end of study.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age >18
- Fasting LDL>130 mg/dL
- Fasting triglycerides >250 mg/dL
- Plasma viral load below 50 copies/mL on current regimen for 6 months prior to study entry.
- No prior history of any NRTI resistance.
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of NRTI resistance mutations
- Need for medications that have drug interactions with raltegravir: dilantin, phenobarbitol and rifampin
- Unstable clinical condition, such as unstable cardiac disease, or cancer requiring ongoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or other medical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude a subject from safely undergoing study procedures.
- Breast-feeding or pregnancy.
- Use of immunosuppressive medications within 60 days prior to study entry.
- Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00887653
United States, Massachusetts | |
Tufts University | |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02111 | |
United States, Rhode Island | |
Miriam Hospital Immunology Clinic | |
Providence, Rhode Island, United States, 02906 |
Principal Investigator: | Karen Tashima, MD | The Miriam Hospital |
Responsible Party: | Aadia Rana, Assistant Professor of Medicine, The Miriam Hospital |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00887653 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
2007-09 |
First Posted: | April 24, 2009 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | October 10, 2014 |
Last Update Posted: | October 10, 2014 |
Last Verified: | October 2014 |
Hyperlipidemias Hyperlipoproteinemias Hypertriglyceridemia Dyslipidemias Lipid Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Raltegravir Potassium Anti-HIV Agents |
Anti-Retroviral Agents Antiviral Agents Anti-Infective Agents HIV Integrase Inhibitors Integrase Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action |