Assessment of Combined Praziquantel and Albendazole vs Albendazole Alone to Treat Active Parenchymal Neurocysticercosis

NCT ID: NCT06376396

Last Updated: 2024-04-23

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

300 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-06-30

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the combination albendazole and praziquantel versus albendazole alone in patients affected by neurocysticercosis.

Detailed Description

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This is a randomized, two arms, parallel-groups, open-label clinical trial to assess if the combination of antiparasitic praziquantel and albendazole is better than albendazole alone in the treatment of active parenchymal neurocysticercosis in Tanzania and Zambia.

Background and Study Rationale: between the forms of human cysticercosis caused by Taenia solium, neurocysticercosis is a major contributor to the burden of seizure disorders and epilepsy in most of the world, while it has relatively poor clinical evidence on treatment options, requiring further data, mainly from additional randomized controlled trials. In particular albendazole and praziquantel are the two parasiticides recommended for use in treating active neurocysticercosis (NCC). Specifically, albendazole is recommended for use in patients with a single cyst while both albendazole and praziquantel (combination therapy) are recommended for patients with multiple cysts. However, not all patients with single cysts respond to albendazole monotherapy. Combination therapy may be effective in patients with single cysts as it has already been shown effective for multiple cysts.

Most studies of treatment success for NCC have been conducted in Latin America and India. In India, the studies were performed primarily on singular cystic lesions. Despite Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) being recognized as endemic for this parasite, no study evaluating the success of standard treatment in humans has been conducted in this region. Additionally, it is difficult to extrapolate information from other regions other than SSA due to possible differences in genetic, clinical, and environmental factors.

Primary Objective:

The primary objective of this study is to determine if the anthelmintics combination of praziquantel and albendazole is better than albendazole alone in the treatment of the active parenchymal neurocysticercosis based on cyst resolution.

Secondary Objectives:

1. To determine if the combination of antiparasitic praziquantel and albendazole is better than albendazole alone in the treatment of active parenchymal neurocysticercosis based on seizures reduction
2. To estimate the change in quality of life of patients with active symptomatic NCC before and after treatment with combined antiparasitic treatment and mono…
3. To assess the role of serology in diagnosis, management and follow up of participants treated for neurocysticercosis.

Conditions

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Neurocysticercosis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Albendazole and Praziquantel

This arm includes combined albendazole with praziquantel, given to approximately 150 participants. Subjects will also receive dexamethasone as an adjunct treatment. An appropriate dose will be calculated per participant's body weight and administered to each participant daily for 10 days. Participants will be monitored for 30 minutes following oral medication, and a repeat dose will be administered if a participant vomits within this observation period. Additional doses (the whole cycle) will be supplied for participants failed to clear NCC in six months.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

albendazole and praziquantel

Intervention Type DRUG

Combination of albendazole plus praziquantel

Albendazole

This arm includes albendazole monotherapy, given to approximately 150 participants. Subjects will also receive dexamethasone as an adjunct treatment. An appropriate dose will be calculated per participant's body weight and administered to each participant daily for 10 days. Participants will be monitored for 30 minutes following oral medication, and a repeat dose will be administered if a participant vomits within this observation period. Additional doses (the whole cycle) will be supplied for participants failed to clear NCC in six months.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Albendazole

Intervention Type DRUG

Albendazole alone

Interventions

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albendazole and praziquantel

Combination of albendazole plus praziquantel

Intervention Type DRUG

Albendazole

Albendazole alone

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Albendazole Praziquantel

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Living in the study area for a continuous period of 3 years
* Adult aged 18 years and above
* Are willing and able to consent to this study
* Meet the definitions of active symptomatic NCC
* Have late onset of epilepsy or history of seizures, epileptic seizures
* Subjects willing to undergo diagnostic procedures
* Subjects medically stable enough for trial medication to be initiated
* Subjects willing to be hospitalized for 11-20 days to receive treatment for NCC
* Subjects willing to be followed up for one year following receipt of study medication

Exclusion Criteria

* Women pregnant or breastfeeding
* Symptomatic NCC with cysts in extra-parenchymal location (sub-arachnoid and/or ventricles)
* Have uncontrolled hypertension and/or diabetes
* Have chronic consuming illness such as cancer or mental handicap to not allow them to follow the study instructions
* Have severe immunodeficiency eg. HIV/AIDS or Autoimmune diseases
* Already known allergies to albendazole or praziquantel
* Subject taking part in another clinical/pharmacological study in the 30 days preceding enrollment
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Sokoine University of Agriculture

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Zambia

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University Ghent

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

R-Evolution Worldwide S.r.l. Impresa Sociale

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dario Scaramuzzi

Director

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Kabemba E. Mwape, Prof.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Zambia

Central Contacts

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Bernard J. Ngowi, Dr

Role: CONTACT

+255 252500082

Helena A. Ngowi, Prof.

Role: CONTACT

+255 232640037

References

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Adebayo PB, Akinyemi RO, Ogun SA, Ogunniyi A. Seizure severity and health-related quality of life of adult Nigerian patients with epilepsy. Acta Neurol Scand. 2014 Feb;129(2):102-8. doi: 10.1111/ane.12146. Epub 2013 May 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23682560 (View on PubMed)

Azimi A, Fattahi R, Asadi-Lari M. Knowledge translation status and barriers. J Med Libr Assoc. 2015 Apr;103(2):96-9. doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.103.2.008. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25918490 (View on PubMed)

Fogang YF, Savadogo AA, Camara M, Toffa DH, Basse A, Sow AD, Ndiaye MM. Managing neurocysticercosis: challenges and solutions. Int J Gen Med. 2015 Oct 16;8:333-44. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S73249. eCollection 2015.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26527895 (View on PubMed)

Garcia HH, Nash TE, Del Brutto OH. Clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of neurocysticercosis. Lancet Neurol. 2014 Dec;13(12):1202-15. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70094-8. Epub 2014 Nov 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25453460 (View on PubMed)

Kinyanjui DW, Kathuku DM, Mburu JM. Quality of life among patients living with epilepsy attending the neurology clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya: a comparative study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2013 Jun 18;11:98. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-11-98.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23777194 (View on PubMed)

Makasi CE, Kilale AM, Ngowi BJ, Lema Y, Katiti V, Mahande MJ, Msoka EF, Stelzle D, Winkler AS, Mmbaga BT. Knowledge and misconceptions about epilepsy among people with epilepsy and their caregivers attending mental health clinics: A qualitative study in Taenia solium endemic pig-keeping communities in Tanzania. Epilepsia Open. 2023 Jun;8(2):487-496. doi: 10.1002/epi4.12720. Epub 2023 Mar 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36896648 (View on PubMed)

Nau AL, Mwape KE, Wiefek J, Schmidt K, Abatih E, Dorny P, Praet N, Chiluba C, Schmidt H, Phiri IK, Winkler AS, Gabriel S, Blocher J. Cognitive impairment and quality of life of people with epilepsy and neurocysticercosis in Zambia. Epilepsy Behav. 2018 Mar;80:354-359. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.10.042. Epub 2017 Dec 6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29221763 (View on PubMed)

Nyangi C, Stelzle D, Mkupasi EM, Ngowi HA, Churi AJ, Schmidt V, Mahonge C, Winkler AS. Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to Taenia solium cysticercosis and taeniasis in Tanzania. BMC Infect Dis. 2022 Jun 13;22(1):534. doi: 10.1186/s12879-022-07408-0.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35692033 (View on PubMed)

Owolabi LF, Adamu B, Jibo AM, Owolabi SD, Imam AI, Alhaji ID. Neurocysticercosis in people with epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and strength of association. Seizure. 2020 Jan 7;76:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2020.01.005. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31935478 (View on PubMed)

Stelzle D, Makasi C, Schmidt V, Trevisan C, van Damme I, Welte TM, Ruether C, Fleury A, Dorny P, Magnussen P, Zulu G, Mwape KE, Bottieau E, Gabriel S, Ngowi BJ, Winkler AS; SOLID collaborators. Epidemiological, clinical and radiological characteristics of people with neurocysticercosis in Tanzania-A cross-sectional study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 Nov 28;16(11):e0010911. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010911. eCollection 2022 Nov.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36441777 (View on PubMed)

Torgerson PR, Devleesschauwer B, Praet N, Speybroeck N, Willingham AL, Kasuga F, Rokni MB, Zhou XN, Fevre EM, Sripa B, Gargouri N, Furst T, Budke CM, Carabin H, Kirk MD, Angulo FJ, Havelaar A, de Silva N. World Health Organization Estimates of the Global and Regional Disease Burden of 11 Foodborne Parasitic Diseases, 2010: A Data Synthesis. PLoS Med. 2015 Dec 3;12(12):e1001920. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001920. eCollection 2015 Dec.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26633705 (View on PubMed)

Trevisan C, Damme IV, Ngowi B, Schmidt V, Stelzle D, Moller KS, Kabululu M, Makasi CE, Magnussen P, Bottieau E, Abatih E, Johansen MV, Ngowi H, Ndawi B, Mwape KE, Zulu G, Dorny P, Winkler AS, Gabriel S, On Behalf Of The Solid Consortium. Trial Design of a Prospective Multicenter Diagnostic Accuracy Study of a Point-of-Care Test for the Detection of Taenia solium Taeniosis and Neurocysticercosis in Hospital-Based Settings in Tanzania. Diagnostics (Basel). 2021 Aug 24;11(9):1528. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics11091528.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34573870 (View on PubMed)

Braae UC, Saarnak CF, Mukaratirwa S, Devleesschauwer B, Magnussen P, Johansen MV. Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis and the co-distribution with schistosomiasis in Africa. Parasit Vectors. 2015 Jun 12;8:323. doi: 10.1186/s13071-015-0938-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26065414 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573855/

WHO guidelines on management of Taenia solium neurocysticercosis

Other Identifiers

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101103306

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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