Phase II Randomized Open-Label Trial of Atovaquone Plus Pyrimethamine and Atovaquone Plus Sulfadiazine for the Treatment of Acute Toxoplasmic Encephalitis

NCT ID: NCT00000794

Last Updated: 2021-10-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Completion Date

1998-04-30

Brief Summary

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To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerance of atovaquone with either pyrimethamine or sulfadiazine in AIDS patients with toxoplasmic encephalitis.

AIDS patients with toxoplasmic encephalitis who receive the standard therapy combination of sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine experience a high frequency of severe toxicity. Atovaquone, an antibiotic that has demonstrated efficacy against toxoplasmosis in animal models and in preclinical testing has been well tolerated, is now available as a suspension, which is more readily absorbed than the tablet form of the drug. The efficacy and safety of atovaquone in combination with sulfadiazine or pyrimethamine will be studied.

Detailed Description

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AIDS patients with toxoplasmic encephalitis who receive the standard therapy combination of sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine experience a high frequency of severe toxicity. Atovaquone, an antibiotic that has demonstrated efficacy against toxoplasmosis in animal models and in preclinical testing has been well tolerated, is now available as a suspension, which is more readily absorbed than the tablet form of the drug. The efficacy and safety of atovaquone in combination with sulfadiazine or pyrimethamine will be studied.

Seventy patients are randomized to receive atovaquone with either pyrimethamine or sulfonamides for up to 48 weeks. Additionally, three cohorts of 10 patients each who have a history of treatment-limiting toxicity to pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, or both drugs receive atovaquone plus the alternate drug or atovaquone plus clarithromycin. All patients receiving pyrimethamine also receive leucovorin protection.

PER AMENDMENT 4/3/96:

The open treatment groups are: Atovaquone plus pyrimethamine for patients with acute toxoplasmic encephalitis who have no treatment limiting toxicity to pyrimethamine, and Atovaquone plus clarithromycin for patients with acute toxoplasmic encephalitis who have treatment limiting toxicity to both pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. The following arms closed on 12/22/95: Randomization to the atovaquone plus sulfadiazine arm for patients with acute toxoplasmic encephalitis who had no treatment limiting toxicity to pyrimethamine or sulfonamides, and Atovaquone plus sulfadiazine for patients with acute toxoplasmic encephalitis who had treatment limiting toxicity to pyrimethamine. The following arm closed on 9/26/95: Atovaquone plus pyrimethamine for patients with acute toxoplasmic encephalitis who had treatment limiting toxicity to sulfonamides. NOTE: Any patients enrolled in previous versions will continue to be treated with that same drug treatment and followed under their previous version guidelines.

Conditions

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Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral HIV Infections

Keywords

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Pyrimethamine Leucovorin Drug Therapy, Combination Encephalitis Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Antiprotozoal Agents Clarithromycin atovaquone Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral Sulfadiazine

Study Design

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Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Interventions

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Sulfadiazine

Intervention Type DRUG

Clarithromycin

Intervention Type DRUG

Atovaquone

Intervention Type DRUG

Pyrimethamine

Intervention Type DRUG

Leucovorin calcium

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

* Aerosolized pentamidine for PCP prophylaxis.

PER AMENDMENT 4/3/96:

* History of treatment limiting toxicity to pyrimethamine. Patients with a history of treatment limiting toxicity to both pyrimethamine and sulfonamides will be assigned to receive atovaquone plus clarithromycin.

Patients must have:

* Documented HIV infection or diagnosis of AIDS (except for CD4 count \< 200 cells/mm3).
* Toxoplasmic encephalitis.
* Ability to give informed consent or legal designee who could give consent.

PER AMENDMENT 4/3/96:

* NOTE - A history of treatment limiting toxicity to both pyrimethamine and sulfonamides will result in the patient being enrolled in the atovaquone plus clarithromycin arm.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:

* Coma.
* Opportunistic infection that requires either acute or maintenance treatment with disallowed medications.
* Any infections or neoplasms of the central nervous system other than Toxoplasma, HIV encephalopathy, or syphilis.
* Unable to take oral study drugs.
* Malabsorption (i.e., three or more episodes of diarrhea per day that has caused \>= 10 percent loss of body weight over the past 4 weeks).
* Positive CSF or serum for Cryptococcus antigen or culture (a positive serum antigen only is acceptable, provided patient received prior antifungal therapy and is on maintenance, and the likelihood of recurrence is low).
* Malignancy requiring use of cytotoxic chemotherapy.
* Medical or social condition that would adversely affect study participation or compliance.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

* Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
* Primaquine.
* Sulfonamides.
* Antifolates.
* Dapsone.
* Clarithromycin (except for patients in the cohort to receive this drug).
* Azithromycin.
* Clindamycin.
* Other macrolides.
* Gamma interferon.
* Metoclopramide.
* G-CSF or GM-CSF.

Excluded in patients receiving clarithromycin as study drug:

* Terfenadine, astemizole, or any other long-acting, non-sedating antihistamines.

PER AMENDMENT 4/3/96:

* Cisapride - may increase GI motility and may increase drug absorption.

Patients with the following prior conditions are excluded:

* History of treatment-limiting toxicity to atovaquone.
* Receipt of \> 96 hours (per amendment) of treatment prior to study entry for the current episode of toxoplasmic encephalitis.
Minimum Eligible Age

13 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

NIH

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Luft B

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Chirgwin K

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Locations

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USC CRS

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status

Univ. of Miami AIDS CRS

Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status

Queens Med. Ctr.

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Site Status

Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa, Leahi Hosp.

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Site Status

Northwestern University CRS

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Cook County Hosp. CORE Ctr.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Indiana Univ. School of Medicine, Infectious Disease Research Clinic

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Site Status

Methodist Hosp. of Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Site Status

Johns Hopkins Adult AIDS CRS

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Washington U CRS

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Site Status

St. Louis ConnectCare, Infectious Diseases Clinic

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Site Status

SUNY - Buffalo, Erie County Medical Ctr.

Buffalo, New York, United States

Site Status

Beth Israel Med. Ctr. (Mt. Sinai)

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

NY Univ. HIV/AIDS CRS

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

Univ. of Cincinnati CRS

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Site Status

The Ohio State Univ. AIDS CRS

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Countries

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France United States

References

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Chirgwin K, Hafner R, Leport C, Remington J, Andersen J, Bosler EM, Roque C, Rajicic N, McAuliffe V, Morlat P, Jayaweera DT, Vilde JL, Luft BJ. Randomized phase II trial of atovaquone with pyrimethamine or sulfadiazine for treatment of toxoplasmic encephalitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: ACTG 237/ANRS 039 Study. AIDS Clinical Trials Group 237/Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA, Essai 039. Clin Infect Dis. 2002 May 1;34(9):1243-50. doi: 10.1086/339551.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11941551 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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ANRS 039

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

11214

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

ACTG 237

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id