The Safety and Effectiveness of Ganciclovir Used Alone or in Combination With Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor in the Treatment of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) of the Eye in Patients With AIDS

AMENDED: To evaluate the effect of sargramostim ( GM-CSF ) on modulating the granulocytopenia associated with concomitant DHPG and AZT therapy ( Phase B ), in terms of time to development of granulocytopenia as defined by an absolute neutrophil count ( ANC ) less than or equal to 750 cells/mm3. Original design: To determine if granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor ( GM-CSF ) is helpful in preventing the decreased numbers of white blood cells (infection-fighting cells) associated with ganciclovir ( DHPG ) therapy and to determine if GM-CSF can be safely used in AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus ( CMV ) retinitis. AMENDED: In ACTG 004, among 11 AIDS patients with CMV infection receiving DHPG maintenance therapy (5 mg/kg, 5x/week) with stable white blood cells (WBC)/absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) 7 (64 percent) required dose reduction or discontinuation of both antiviral medications due to granulocytopenia when AZT (600 mg/day) was added. A mean nadir ANC of 717 cells/ml was reached at a mean of 5 weeks of concomitant DHPG/AZT therapy in these patients. While recovery of depressed ANC occurred following discontinuation of study medications, progressive CMV infection (most commonly retinitis) occurred in 19 of 40 patients and seemed to be associated with DHPG therapy interruption. Only 3 of 40 patients were able to tolerate the complete 16 week study duration of DHPG/AZT. Pharmacokinetic studies of co-administration of DHPG and AZT revealed no significant drug-drug interactions. The study investigators concluded that the main, treatment limiting toxicity of combination DHPG/AZT therapy is granulocytopenia and that many patients treated on this study developed intercurrent OIs or staphylococcal septicemia. In order to determine whether patients receiving maintenance DHPG therapy with or without GM-CSF can tolerate concomitant AZT therapy, extended maintenance therapy with the assigned study regimen in combination with AZT will be incorporated into this pr