Effect of Albendazole Dose on Clearance of Filarial Worms

June 30, 2017 updated by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Effect of Albendazole Dose and Interval on Wuchereria Bancrofti Microfilarial Clearance in India: A Randomized, Open Label Study

This study, conducted in Chennai, India, will determine whether a new treatment regimen of albendazole and diethylcarbamazine for lymphatic filariasis can eliminate the disease more quickly than the standard regimen. Lymphatic filariasis is caused by infection with very small filarial worms, particulalry Wuchereria bancroti, that are spread by mosquitoes. The infection can lead to swelling of the arms, legs, breast and scrotum and can progress to permanent swelling of the legs or arms called elephantiasis. The study will see if a higher and more frequent dose of albendazole is better at clearing filarial worms from the blood than the current treatment.

Healthy people between 18 and 55 years of age who are in good health and who are infected with Wuchereria bancrofti may be eligible for this 28-month study. Candidates must be willing to spend 4 days in the Government General Hospital in Chennai, India, at the beginning of the study. They are screened with a medical history, a brief physical examination, ultrasound (picture generated by sound waves) of the groin or chest, and blood tests to check for infection with Wuchereria bancrofti and to measure white blood cell counts.

Participants undergo the following procedures:

-4-day hospitalization

Random assignment to receive either standard treatment (400 mg albendazole and 300 mg DEC given once a year for 2 years) or the experimental regimen (800 mg albendazole and 300 mg DEC given twice a year for 2 years)

Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age

Receive first treatment dose

Monitoring for symptoms

-6-month outpatient visit

Short history, physical examination and blood test

Second treatment dose for subjects receiving 800 mg albendazole

Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age

-1-year outpatient visit

Short history, physical examination and blood test

Second or third treatment dose, depending on treatment group

Repeat ultrasound in subjects whose first ultrasound detected adult worm

Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age

-18-month outpatient visit

Short history, physical examination and blood test

Fourth treatment dose for subjects receiving 800 mg albendazole

Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age

-24-month outpatient visit

Short history, physical examination and blood test

Final dose of albendazole and DEC at standard doses

Repeat ultrasound in subjects whose first ultrasound detected adult worms

Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Albendazole and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) are currently used in combination for annual mass treatment of lymphatic filariasis in all parts of the world except Africa. Although the drugs have been donated, the cost of such programs is very high and has proven to be a major impediment to the success of programs in many countries with limited financial resources. Data from albendazole treatment of other filarial infections and one study comparing single to multi-dose DEC/albendazole in lymphatic filariasis suggest that increased dose and/or frequency of albendazole dosing may be more effective in clearing microfilariae. In this study, 50 volunteers with microfilaremic Wuchereria bancrofti infection will be randomized to receive standard annual therapy (albendazole 400 mg + DEC 300 mg) or semiannual therapy with an increased albendazole dose (albendazole 800 mg + DEC 300 mg). Microfilarial levels, as well as measures of adult worm burden (circulating antigen, ultrasound identification of adult worm nests) will be followed every six months for two years to determine whether the higher dose, more frequent regimen is more effective.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

1000

Phase

  • Phase 2

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

  • India
      • Chennai, India
        • Tuberculosis Research Centre

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

16 years to 53 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA (SCREENING):

Age 18 years to 55 years inclusive.

Both genders.

Not pregnant or breastfeeding by history.

If selected, subject must be willing to spend 3 days on the Clinical Trials Unit of the Government General Hospital, Chennai India.

If selected, subject must be willing to undergo nighttime blood draws every 6 months for 2 years.

If selected, agree to have blood stored for future studies.

Ability to understand and sign the informed consent.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA (SCREENING):

Non-volunteers.

Age less than 18 years or greater than 55 years.

Pregnant or breastfeeding by history.

INCLUSION (TREATMENT):

Age 18 years to 55 years.

Men and non-pregnant or non-breastfeeding women.

Microfilarial levels greater than 50 mf/ml.

Willingness to spend 3 days on the Clinical Trials Unit of the Government General Hospital, Chennai India.

Willingness to undergo nighttime blood draws every 6 months for 2 years.

Ability to understand and sign the informed consent.

Hb levels for inclusion greater than 9 g/dL.

Normal Cr, ALT.

Willingness to have blood stored for future studies.

EXCLUSION (TREATMENT):

Non-volunteers.

Age less than 18 years or greater than 55 years.

Pregnancy or breast-feeding.

Hgb less than or equal to 9 g/dL.

Cr greater than 1.2/100 ml.

ALT greater than 30 U.

Alcohol consumption of more than 2 beers or other alcohol-containing drink/day within a week of each drug administration.

Temperature greater than 37.5 degrees C.

Serious medical illness.

History of benzimidazole allergy.

History of DEC allergy.

Use of albendazole or DEC within past 6 months.

Unwillingness to comply with required study visits.

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?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Microfilarial levels.
Time Frame: 12 months.
12 months.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Adult worm burden.
Time Frame: 12 and 24 months.
12 and 24 months.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Collaborators

Tuberculosis Research Centre, India

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.

General Publications

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

September 9, 2006

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 28, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

April 28, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 12, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 12, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

September 13, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 2, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 30, 2017

Last Verified

April 28, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 999906244
  • 06-I-N244

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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