A Study of Male Rectal Samples in Preparation for Future Rectal Microbicide Trials

Microbicides are drugs that destroy microbes such as viruses and bacteria. Rectal microbicides may be able to prevent transmission of HIV during anal intercourse. The purpose of this study is to obtain rectal samples from men to learn information that may be valuable in future clinical trials of rectal microbicides.

Rectal microbicides to prevent HIV transmission are currently being developed in the hope that someday they will be widely used to prevent sexually transmitted HIV. This study will examine variables in male rectal tissue; this information may be useful for future rectal microbicide safety and efficacy studies. The study will evaluate the differences in rectal tissue from HIV infected or uninfected males who either engage in anal-receptive sex (men who sleep with men, or MSM) or do not have anal-receptive sex.

The study will last approximately 7 months, with 6 weeks of follow-up. There are four groups in this study. Groups 1 and 2 will enroll HIV uninfected men; Groups 3 and 4 will enroll HIV infected men. Groups 1, 3, and 4 will comprise MSM who engage in anal-receptive sex; Group 2 will comprise men who do not. Patients will provide medical and medication history, undergo a complete physical exam, and receive HIV counseling at screening. An anoscopy (examination of the anus, anal canal, and lower rectum) and blood draw will be conducted at screening, study entry, and Weeks 2 and 4. Rectal secretions will be collected and a sigmoidoscopy (an internal examination of the rectum, distal sigmoid colon, and large bowel using a small camera) will be performed at study entry and Weeks 2 and 4.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria for All Participants:

* HIV status confirmed by ELISA/Western Blot at screening
* CD4 count greater than 200 cells/mm3 at screening
* Able and willing to communicate in English
* Able and willing to provide adequate information for locator purposes

Inclusion Criteria for Men Practicing Anal-Receptive Sex (Groups 1, 3 and 4):

* Engaged in anal-receptive sex an average of at least once a week in the 2 months prior to study entry
* Agree to refrain from anal intercourse for 24 hours prior to and for one week after sigmoidoscopy

Inclusion Criteria for Men Not Practicing Anal-Receptive Sex (Group 2)

* No history of anal receptive intercourse in the 2 months prior to study entry

Inclusion Criteria for HIV Infected Men (Groups 3 and 4):

* Viral load of either greater than 10,000 copies of RNA/ml plasma or less than 50 copies RNA/ml plasma for at least 2 months prior to study entry
* Have not changed antiretroviral therapy within 6 weeks prior to study entry

Exclusion Criteria:

* For HIV infected patients, 3 or more HSV-2 (herpes) outbreaks in the 12 months prior to screening or 1 or more HSV-2 outbreaks in the 6 months prior to screening
* Active, serious infections (other than HIV) requiring parenteral antibiotic therapy within 15 days prior to screening
* Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) or rectal cancer
* Rectal surgery, including fistulectomy
* Diagnosed bleeding disorder, including hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, impaired blood clotting, or current use of anticoagulants that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make participation in the study unsafe or complicate interpretation of study outcome data
* Prosthetic heart valve or diagnosis of valve abnormality
* Hemorrhoid surgery in the 6 months prior to screening
* Bleeding hemorrhoids at screening or in the 6 weeks prior to study entry
* Anal fistulae in the 6 weeks prior to study entry
* Active diarrheal disease (greater than 3 times a day) or bleeding disorder
* Rectal cultures positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea at screening or within 1 month prior to study entry
* Unprotected anal intercourse in the 3 months prior to study entry
* Any other clinical condition or prior therapy that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the patient unsuitable for the study or unable to comply with study requirements
* Enrolled in any other clinical trial for the duration of their participation in HPTN 056