Hospital

Enrollment Status:
Practitioner referral, special

Brief Summary of Protocol:
It has been found that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected cells are significantly higher in lymphoid tissue (lymph nodes and tonsils) than in the blood of HIV-infected people.

The gastrointestinal tissue is the body’s largest area of lymphoid tissue. However a comparison between the numbers of HIV infected cells detectable in the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach and intestines) with the number of HIV infected cells from the blood has not been performed.

The reason for doing this research is to determine which cells in the gastrointestinal tract are infected with HIV, if the number of HIV-infected cells in the gastrointestinal tract are greater than in the blood and to assess the response of immune cells in the intestines towards the HIV virus.



Detailed Description of Protocol:
If you decide to participate, then you will first undergo a complete physical examination and routine blood testing by Dr. Markowitz or his associates as either an outpatient or an inpatient to determine that there is no reason why you cannot participate in the study.

As part of this study, you will have a flexible sigmoidoscopic examination.



What specifically makes a person eligible for the study?
You may be eligible to enter this study:


• You are HIV-uninfected

OR

• You are a man who has sex with men and remain uninfected

OR

• You have been HIV infected for less than one year and have controlled the level of HIV virus in your blood to less than 500 copies per ml

OR

• You are HIV infected and have controlled the level of HIV virus to less than 5000 copies for more than 7 years with no progression of CD4 lymphocyte depletion in your blood for more than 7 years

OR

• You have been HIV infected for more than one year and have never taken antiretroviral treatment

OR

• You have been HIV infected for more than one year and are currently receiving antiretroviral treatment

OR

• You have been HIV infected for less than one year and have not yet started receiving antiretroviral treatment for HIV infection

OR

• You have been HIV infected for less than one year and have received antiretroviral treatment for HIV infection

OR

• You are HIV infected and are currently receiving monoclonal antibodies in the context of stopping antiretroviral medications

OR

• You are HIV infected; you have been on antiretroviral treatment and have now decided to discontinue antiretroviral treatment.

Gender:
Both

Age(s):
18-75 years of age

Children permitted to participate:
No

Potential Benefits.....
You will not have any direct benefit from participation in this study.



Compensation:
There is no compensation for participation in this research study.

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