Safety and Effectiveness of a Three-Drug Combination Treatment for Recently Infected or Converted HIV Patients

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of stavudine (d4T), didanosine (ddI), and BMS-232632 when given early in the course of HIV infection. Acute HIV infection may develop in patients that are exposed to the HIV virus. Following infection, the viral load (level of HIV in the blood) rises rapidly over the next few days to weeks. It is not known which is the best treatment in patients with very early HIV infection. Researchers believe these patients may respond well to strong early treatment. A combination consisting of enteric-coated didanosine (ddI-EC), stavudine (d4T), and the HIV-1 protease inhibitor, BMS-232632, will be tested.