A Multi-Center, Open-Label, Ascending, Multiple Oral Dose, Safety, Tolerance and Pharmacokinetic Study of 3'-Deoxy-3'-Fluorothymidine (FLT) in Patients With Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-Related Complex (ARC)

To assess the tolerance and toxicity profile of deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine (FLT) after multiple oral dosing for 16 weeks. To characterize the steady-state pharmacokinetics of FLT after multiple oral doses. To assess the effect of FLT on immunologic and virologic markers of HIV infection (CD4+ lymphocyte count, p24 antigen, viremia) in patients with AIDS or AIDS related complex (ARC) after multiple oral dosing for 16 weeks.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

* Aerosolized pentamidine for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis.
* Up to 14 days of systemic therapy for minor opportunistic infections such as candidiasis, mucocutaneous Herpes simplex or cutaneous Herpes zoster infections.

Patients must have the following:

* AIDS or AIDS related complex (ARC) as defined by the CDC.
* Positive antibody to HIV as determined by a commercially licensed ELISA test kit, confirmed by Western blot analysis.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following conditions or symptoms are excluded:

* Symptomatic visceral Kaposi's sarcoma or progression of Kaposi's sarcoma within the month prior to study entry (progression is defined as more than a 25 percent increase in the product of bidirectional measurement of indicator lesions and/or more than a 25 percent increase in the number of new lesions).
* Concurrent neoplasms other than Kaposi's sarcoma or basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Patients who have had a malignancy in the past that has been in complete remission for 1 year without therapy may be enrolled.
* Signs or symptoms of neuropathy and a Vibratron 2 score = or \> 4 for either great toe.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

* Acute therapy for AIDS-related infection.
* Systemic maintenance therapy for AIDS-defining opportunistic infection.
* Recombinant erythropoietin.
* Long term therapy with either aspirin or probenecid.

Concurrent Treatment:

Excluded:

* Blood transfusion more than once per month.

Patients with the following are excluded:

* Symptomatic visceral Kaposi's sarcoma or progression of Kaposi's sarcoma within the month prior to study entry.
* Unwilling to sign an informed consent or patients unwilling to be followed at the medical center where they were enrolled for the duration of the study and follow-up as required.
* History of intolerance to zidovudine (AZT) at any dose as demonstrated by an AZT related decrease in hemoglobin levels of at least 2 g/dl or AZT related depression of neutrophils of at least 200 cells/mm3 to \< 750 cells/mm3 which required discontinuation of AZT therapy.
* Diseases or conditions listed in Exclusion Co-Existing Conditions.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

* Antiretroviral agents within 14 days of study entry.
* Immunomodulating agents or corticosteroids within 30 days prior to study entry.
* Treatment for acute Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia within 2 weeks prior to study entry.

Prior Treatment:

Excluded:

* Blood transfusions within 7 days prior to study entry.
* Radiation therapy for Kaposi's sarcoma within 30 days prior to study entry.

Active substance abuse.