Intervention: Pentoxifylline
Trial phase: Phase 2
ATC code: C04AD03 | R03DA20
SMILES: CC(=O)CCCCn1c(=O)c2c(ncn2C)n(C)c1=O
Sex: All
Age groups: Adult | Older Adult
Healthy volunteers: No
Participants at risk: 13
Group description: Participants will receive pentoxifylline.

Pentoxifylline : 400 mg three times a day for 8 weeks
Eligibility criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Documentation of HIV infection with a positive HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and confirmatory western blot test
CD4 cell count greater than 350/µL at the time of screening
Has not received any antiretroviral therapies in the 6 months before screening
No anticipated need for any antiretroviral therapies during the course of this study, as determined by the principal investigator or by the participant's HIV caregiver

Note: There is no HIV-1 RNA level eligibility criterion.

Exclusion Criteria:

Incarceration at the time of screening or at any study visit
Diagnosed vascular disease, including history of angina pectoris, coronary disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, aortic aneurysm, or otherwise known atherosclerotic disease
Diagnosed disease or process, other than HIV infection, associated with increased systemic inflammation (including, but not limited to, systemic lupus erythematosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, or other collagen vascular diseases). Hepatitis B or C co-infections are NOT exclusionary.
History of bleeding diathesis, gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding, cerebrovascular aneurysm or bleeding, or retinal hemorrhage
Known or suspected cancer requiring systemic treatment in the 6 months before screening
History of American Diabetes Association (ADA)-defined diabetes mellitus. History of gestational diabetes is not exclusionary if the potential participant does not have current ADA-defined diabetes.
History of migraine headaches
History of Raynaud's phenomenon
History of cardiac arrhythmias or cardiomyopathy
History of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, even if treated
Known allergy or intolerance to pentoxifylline or other methylxanthines (e.g., theophylline, caffeine, theobromine). Use of caffeinated products, except on the mornings of the study visits, is not exclusionary.
Known allergy or intolerance to nitroglycerin
History of carotid bruits
Creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/min, using the Cockcroft-Gault equation and a serum creatinine level measured in the 28 days before screening or at the screening visit
Hemoglobin less than 9.0 mg/dL in the 28 days before screening or at the screening visit
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) greater than three times the upper limit of normal (ULN) in the 28 days before screening or at the screening visit
Total bilirubin greater than 2.5 times the ULN in the 28 days before screening or at the screening visit
Fever, defined as a temperature greater than or equal to 38.0 C in the 48 hours before screening. Fever in the 48 hours before each study visit will require postponement of that study visit until the participant's temperature has been lower than 38.0 C for at least 48 hours; fevers continuing past the allowed study visit timeframe will result in study discontinuation.
Therapy for acute infection or other serious medical illnesses in the 14 days before screening. Therapy for acute infection or other serious medical illnesses that overlaps with a study visit will result in postponement of that study visit until the course of therapy is completed; postponement outside of the allowed study visit timeframe will result in study discontinuation.
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Hypotension, defined as systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg, at time of screening. Hypotension noted prior to brachial artery reactivity testing at each study visit will result in study visit postponement of at least 1 day until systolic pressure is greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg the morning of brachial reactivity testing; postponement outside of the allowed study visit timeframe will result in study discontinuation.
Hypertension, defined as the receipt of any antihypertensive medication in the 28 days before screening or systolic blood pressure greater than 160 mm Hg at the screening visit
Receipt of anti-inflammatory agents (including, but not limited to, plaquenil, infliximab, etanercept, mycophenolate mofetil, sirolimus, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, pentoxifylline, or thalidomide) in the 28 days before screening
Receipt of investigational agents, cytotoxic chemotherapy, systemic or topical glucocorticoids (of any dose), or anabolic steroids in the 28 days before screening. Physiologic testosterone replacement therapy is not exclusionary.
Receipt of lipid-lowering drugs, aspirin, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), acetazolamide, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, or thyroid replacements in the 28 days before screening
Use of sildenafil, vardenafil, or tadalafil in the 72 hours before or after each study visit
Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements