Search / Trial NCT00000674

A Pilot Study of Oral Clindamycin and Pyrimethamine for the Treatment of Toxoplasmic Encephalitis in Patients With AIDS

Launched by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES (NIAID) · Aug 30, 2001

Trial Information

Current as of October 22, 2024

Completed

Keywords

Toxoplasmosis Aids Related Opportunistic Infections Pyrimethamine Leucovorin Drug Evaluation Drug Therapy, Combination Encephalitis Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Clindamycin

Description

Toxoplasmic encephalitis (encephalitis caused by Toxoplasma gondii) is the most frequent cause of focal central nervous system infection in patients with AIDS. If untreated, the encephalitis is fatal. At present, it is standard practice to give a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine to treat toxoplasmic encephalitis. The high frequency of sulfonamide-induced toxicity in AIDS patients often makes completion of a full course of therapy difficult. There is some information that high doses of parenteral (such as by injection) clindamycin used with pyrimethamine may be as effective as p...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

  • Inclusion Criteria
  • Concurrent Medication:
  • Allowed:
  • * Erythropoietin.
  • * Aerosolized pentamidine for prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).
  • * Immunoglobulin therapy.
  • * Alpha interferon.
  • * Patients entering study on isoniazid (INH) may continue INH therapy.
  • * Use of corticosteroids is discouraged. If corticosteroids are needed for the management of intracranial hypertension or cranial mass effect, use of dexamethasone is encouraged (4 g orally 4 times daily for 3 days and thereafter tapered over the next 10 to 14 days).
  • Patients are admitted into the study if they have:
  • * Laboratory evidence of HIV infection or if they have an undetermined HIV infection status if they belong to a high-risk group for HIV infection.
  • * Either a definite or presumptive diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis. Patient or appropriate family member, or legal designee must be able to understand and sign a written informed consent.
  • Allowed:
  • * HIV encephalopathy.
  • AMENDED:
  • * Allows patients who have relapsed. Patients with a previous diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis based on histopathology or documented neuroradiological response to pyrimethamine and sulfonamides or pyrimethamine and clindamycin and who have relapsed toxoplasmic encephalitis. Relapse must be documented by definite progression of lesions or appearance of new lesions compatible with toxoplasmic encephalitis.
  • Prior Medication:
  • Allowed if liver enzymes stable for 6 weeks prior to study entry:
  • * Rifampin.
  • * Isoniazid.
  • Exclusion Criteria
  • Co-existing Condition:
  • Patients with the following are excluded:
  • * Infections of the central nervous system.
  • * Malabsorption syndrome (3 or more loose stools a day for at least 4 weeks associated with an unintentional weight loss of at least 10 percent of body weight).
  • * History of sensitivity to the study medication.
  • * Malignancies requiring the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy.
  • * Coma.
  • * Diffuse central white matter lesions.
  • * Negative serology for Toxoplasma as performed at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (unless biopsy is positive).
  • * Lymphoma of the central nervous system.
  • * Cerebral Kaposi's sarcoma.
  • * Hemorrhagic diathesis or active bleeding disorder.
  • Concurrent Medication:
  • Excluded:
  • * Erythromycin or other macrolides.
  • * Sulfonamides.
  • * Immunomodulators.
  • * Cytotoxic chemotherapy.
  • * Amphotericin.
  • * Dapsone.
  • * Rifamycins.
  • * Ganciclovir.
  • * Allopurinol.
  • * Antifolates.
  • * Azidothymidine and other antiretrovirals and investigational agents not specifically allowed.
  • * Folate supplements.
  • * Isoniazid (INH) therapy may not be started while on therapy.
  • Concurrent Treatment:
  • Excluded:
  • * Lymphocyte replacement.
  • Patients with the following are excluded:
  • * Negative HIV antibodies by a federally licensed ELISA (as determined at or after study entry), unless there is documentation of a previously positive HIV culture or p24 antigen.
  • * Coma.
  • * Diffuse central white matter lesions.
  • * Negative serology for Toxoplasma as performed at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (unless biopsy is positive).
  • * Lymphoma of the central nervous system.
  • * Cerebral Kaposi's sarcoma.
  • * Hemorrhagic diathesis or active bleeding disorder.
  • * Unable to take oral medications reliably.
  • * Any medical or social condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would adversely affect either participation and/or compliance in this study.
  • Prior Medication:
  • Excluded:
  • * Treatment for toxoplasmic encephalitis.

About National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases (Niaid)

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is a key component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, and treatment of infectious and immune-mediated diseases. Through rigorous clinical trials, NIAID aims to foster innovative research that enhances public health and addresses global health challenges, including emerging infectious diseases and allergies. The institute collaborates with various partners, including academic institutions, industry, and international organizations, to translate scientific discoveries into effective therapies and vaccines. NIAID's commitment to high-quality clinical research is integral to improving health outcomes and informing policy decisions in the realm of infectious diseases and immunology.

Locations

Los Angeles, California, United States

Palo Alto, California, United States

San Diego, California, United States

Miami, Florida, United States

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Buffalo, New York, United States

New York, New York, United States

New York, New York, United States

New York, New York, United States

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

St. Louis, Missouri, United States

People applied

Timeline

First submit

Trial launched

Trial updated

Estimated completion

Not reported

Discussion 0