Can Presumptive Anthelminthic Treatment Delay the Progression of HIV in ART-naïve Patients in Rural Africa?

Summary

This study focuses on one of the major health issues of Sub-Saharan Africa: multi-parasitism and co-infections. In particular this study aims to elucidate the interaction of helminths with HIV.

There is good reason to suspect a detrimental effect of helminth infection on the course of HIV infection. We hypothesize, that treatment of helminths in HIV- and helminth co-infected individuals leads to a reduction of HIV viral load. With a lower HIV RNA level one would expect a slower decline of CD4 cells and hence also a slower progression of the disease. Ideally this would lead to a prolongation of the chronic phase of HIV infection and to a delay in the time when anti-retroviral treatment needs to be started.

Conditions

• HIV Infections
• Helminthiasis

Interventions

DRUG

Praziquantel, Ivermectin, Albendazole

Standard HIV care plus triple anthelminthic treatment * Praziquantel 2400mg single dose * Ivermectin 12 mg, single dose * Albendazole 400mg, 2 doses in 1 day All drugs given at baseline, after 6 months and after 12 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre

  collaborator OTHER

• Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern

  collaborator OTHER

• Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Cornelia J. Staehelin, MD · Swiss Tropical Institute, Ifakara Health Institute

• Christoph F. Hatz, MD, Prof. · Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute

• Hansjakob Furrer, MD, Prof. · Infectious Disease Unit, Inselspital, University Hospital Berne, 3010 Berne, Switzerland

• Honorathy Urassa, MSc · Ifakara Health Institute

• Baraka Amuri, MD · Ifakara Health Institute

• Salim Hamis, MD · Ifakara Health Institute

• Juerg Utzinger, Prof. · Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute

• Erik Mossdorf, MD · Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2009-01-31

Primary Completion

2010-09-30

Completion

2010-09-30

Countries

• Tanzania

Study Locations