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Lydia Soto-Torres

Publications and source records attributed to Lydia Soto-Torres.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Safety and acceptability of cellulose sulfate as a vaginal microbicide in HIV-infected women.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies of topical microbicides have assessed their safety in HIV-infected women. We conducted this study to evaluate the safety and acceptability of 6% cellulose sulfate (CS) gel as a vaginal microbicide in sexually abstinent and active HIV-infected women. METHODS: Fifty-nine HIV-infected women were enrolled in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study comparing 6% CS to placebo gel used for 14 days. Sexually abstinent women applied gel once or twice daily and sexually active women used gel once daily. RESULTS: CS gel was safe with no reported severe or life-threatening adverse events (AE). Thirty-nine (66%) of the participants experienced urogenital AE judged as probably or possibly related to gel. The majority (51%) of these participants reported only mild events. Fewer women (62%) who used CS experienced urogenital AE than those assigned to placebo gel (70%) (P = 0.59). Eleven (19%) women experienced intermenstrual bleeding judged to be probably or possibly related to gel use (four in the CS and seven in the placebo gel group). There was no increase in AE by frequency of gel use or sexual activity with the exception of abdominal/pelvic pain which was noted more frequently with twice daily use among sexually abstinent women. Women and men found the gel highly acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: This Phase I study demonstrated that CS vaginal gel was safe, well tolerated and acceptable by HIV-infected women and their male partners. Thus, further development of CS is warranted as a potential method to prevent HIV transmission and acquisition.

Abdominal Pain↗

Safety and tolerability of tenofovir vaginal gel in abstinent and sexually active HIV-infected and uninfected women.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the highest practical dose and frequency (HPDF) of 0.3% or 1% tenofovir vaginal gel applied once or twice daily by sexually abstinent HIV-uninfected women, and to evaluate the safety, tolerability and systemic pharmacokinetics of the HPDF in abstinent and sexually active HIV-negative and HIV-infected women. METHODS: Eighty-four women, enrolled in sequential cohorts, used the study product for 14 consecutive intermenstrual days. Safety laboratory assessments and pelvic examinations were carried out during five study visits, with colposcopy at enrollment and on day 14. Samples for pharmacokinetics were collected before and after the initial tenofovir gel use and at day 13. RESULTS: The 1% tenofovir gel used twice daily was as well tolerated as other regimens used by the 48 HIV-negative sexually abstinent women, establishing the HPDF. Although 92% of the women reported at least one adverse event, the majority were mild (87%) and involved the genitourinary tract (70%). One possibly product-related severe adverse event involving lower abdominal cramping was reported by a sexually abstinent woman who used 0.3% gel twice daily. Serum tenofovir levels were low but detectable in 14 of the 25 women. No new HIV RNA resistance mutations were detected after 2 weeks of tenofovir gel in the 24 HIV-infected participants. No significant systemic toxicity was detected. CONCLUSION: A 2-week course of 1% tenofovir vaginal gel used twice daily was well tolerated in sexually abstinent and sexually active HIV-negative and HIV-positive women. Systemic tenofovir absorption occurred. Expanded safety and effectiveness testing is warranted.

Adenine↗