A Phase II, Double-Blind Trial of Recombinant Human Nerve Growth Factor for Treatment of HIV-Associated Sensory Neuropathy

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Allowed: Maintenance treatment of CMV retinitis, MAI bacteremia, or cryptococcal meningitis is permitted. Local therapy for Kaposi's sarcoma. Patients must have: Evidence of HIV antibodies documented by a licensed ELISA and a second, FDA-approved, confirmatory test. Diagnosis of HIV-associated, predominantly sensory neuropathy by a neurologist. Willingness and ability to complete the pain and medication log and competence to assess pain level throughout the study. Prior Medication: Allowed: History of stable-dose (defined as no more than 50% increase or decrease in dose) antiretroviral therapy for eight weeks before randomization, including the following: didanosine, zalcitabine, stavudine, lamivudine, protease inhibitors, and antiretrovirals available through expanded access trials. Chemotherapeutic drugs other than neurotoxic systemic chemotherapeutic agents within 30 days prior to randomization. Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded: Presence of acute, active, opportunistic infection, except oral thrush; oral, genital or rectal herpes; and MAI bacteremia within two weeks before randomization. Evidence of another contributing cause for peripheral neuropathy, including: diabetes mellitus, hereditary neuropathy, current vitamin B12 deficiency and no supplementation or supplementation <= 3 months, or treatment with any drug that might contribute to sensory neuropathy. Major active psychiatric disorder (depression is allowed provided patient has received a stable antidepressant regimen for at least four weeks before randomization). Current active malignancy. NOTE: Malignancies in remission that do not require further treatment or Kaposi's sarcoma requiring only local treatment are allowed. Any conditions, including dementia and myelopathy, that would interfere with patient evaluation, accurate completion of the symptom scale, or compliance with subcutaneous injection. Concurrent Medication: Excluded: Chemotherapeutic agents. Systemic corticosteroids or immunomodulators. Initiation of new antiretroviral to a stable regimen. Prior Medication: Excluded: Neurotoxic systemic chemotherapy within the past 90 days. Systemic corticosteroids or immunomodulators within the past 30 days. Initiation of non-opioid prescription medication for pain during the 2 weeks preceding randomization (including tricyclic antidepressants, mexiletine, phenytoin, and carbamazepine). Treatment for acute opportunistic infections within the past 14 days (maintenance therapy for CMV retinitis, MAI bacteremia, or cryptococcal meningitis is permitted). Active drug or alcohol abuse that would affect study compliance.