Recruiting

How fungal gut leakage affects lung health in people with HIV

Plain-English translation of NCT05502653 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ ·

· Source last updated September 2025

· Translation generated June 2026

What is this trial?

Researchers want to understand why some people with HIV develop lung problems, even when their HIV is well controlled by medication. This study will look at whether fungi leaking from the gut into the bloodstream may trigger inflammation that damages the lungs. By collecting blood, urine, and breathing samples from 100 people with HIV, the team hopes to find new ways to protect lung health.

People with HIV can develop serious lung diseases like COPD, even when their HIV treatment is working well. Scientists think that a leaky gut—which allows fungi to enter the bloodstream—might be triggering inflammation that harms the lungs. This study aims to understand that connection so doctors can someday prevent or treat these lung problems.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 80 years old
you have been diagnosed with HIV
your HIV has been well controlled with medication for at least 6 months
you are already part of an HIV research program at the University of Pittsburgh or receive care at their HIV clinics

You likely don't qualify if…

you have had abdominal or eye surgery in the past 3 months
you have had a heart attack recently
you have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease
you are pregnant
you have taken antibiotics in the past 2 weeks or immunosuppressive medications in the past 6 months

What participation looks like

You will visit the research center at baseline and then again at 18 and 36 months. At each visit, you'll drink a special sugar solution and collect your urine for 5 hours, provide blood samples (about 6 tablespoons), take breathing tests that measure how well your lungs work, and provide samples from your mouth and throat. The breathing tests include inhaling a medication to see how your airways respond. The whole process takes a few hours per visit.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 14, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Key details

Sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Collaborators

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Enrollment target

~100 participants

Started

September 2022

Primary completion

August 2026

This trial's estimated completion date has passed — the record may not be fully up to date.

Age range

18 Years – 80 Years

Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in September 2025.

Contact the research team directly

Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.

Central contact

Cathy J Kessinger

University of Pittsburgh

Interested in joining?

Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov