Study of Patients With Strongyloides Stercoralis Infection

Study of Patients With Known or Suspected Infection With Strongyloides Stercoralis

This study will explore faster and easier ways to detect infection with the intestinal parasite Strongyloides stercoralis and learn more about the conditions under which it causes serious disease. Ordinarily, the Strongyloides helminth (type of intestinal worm) causes only few, if any, symptoms, but in people with weakened immunity it may be very serious, and even deadly.

People between 5 and 80 years of age with known or suspected S. stercoralis infection, or infection with another helminth, such as filariasis, that might cause a cross-reaction with S. stercoralis may be eligible for this study.

Participants found to be infected with S. stercoralis will be treated with ivermectin, thiabendazole, or albendazole. In addition, they will undergo the following tests and procedures:

  • Blood tests and stool samples: Samples will be collected before and after treatment to check general health status and immune function, and to look for parasites in stool. Up to 50 milliliters (10 teaspoons) of blood will be drawn in adults and up to 25 ml (5 teaspoons) in children.
  • Skin tests: A test similar to those used for tuberculosis and allergies will be conducted to determine if there is sensitization to products of the parasite. Such a test might be used as a rapid method to diagnose the infection. About three drops of several different antigens (proteins) are injected into the skin of the arm. After 15 to 20 minutes, the area is checked to see if a red spot has formed and, if so, the spot is measured.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

This study is directed to patients with known or suspected Strongyloides stercoralis infection because it is a relatively common parasitic infection, even in the United States. It is difficult to diagnose, and efficacy of treatment is difficult to evaluate. Some infected individuals can develop serious even fatal, disease under certain conditions of immunosuppression. Because newer diagnostic methods are needed to diagnose this infection, we have developed new diagnostics that will be evaluated in comparison to more standard diagnostic tests. Serum and cells will also be collected from patients on this protocol to understand the cellular and humoral response to the parasite and its antigens. All subjects proven to have Strongyloides stercoralis infection will be treated with standard therapy and followed to assess both the efficacy of treatment and the changes in humoral and cellular immune responses induced by treatment.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment

650

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

8 years to 80 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Age of 5 to 80 years and of either sex.

Access to primary medical care provider outside of the NIH

Ability to give written informed consent (for adults) and parental consent (for those under 18)

Presence of known or suspected infection with Stronglyloides stercoralis, such as significant peripheral blood eosinophilia (greater than 1000 eosinophils/mm(3)) for which no other cause is apparent.

Willingness to participate and provide blood for in vitro assays and serum storage.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Less than 5 years of age

Pregnancy is not a criterion for exclusion.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 1989

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 3, 1999

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 3, 1999

First Posted (Estimate)

November 4, 1999

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 25, 2009

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 24, 2009

Last Verified

May 1, 2009

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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