A Study of Co-infections of HIV-1 and Schistosoma Mansoni and Its Impact on Praziquantel Treatment Outcomes

• Status: Unknown status
• Trial end date: 2013-06-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

In this study, it is hypothesized that helminth infections modulate immune responses against HIV-1 infection resulting into increased HIV-1 multiplication, faster progression to AIDS and increased episodes of AIDS-related opportunistic infections. Furthermore, the effect of helminth infections on progression of HIV-1 infection is dependent on helminth infection intensity, host background immunity, nutritional status, demographic factors and socio-economic status. Also, treatment of helminth infections using praziquantel and albendazole among HIV-1 infected individuals will lead to reduction in HIV-1 viral loads, improvement of CD4+ counts, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and Hb levels, improved weight gain and reduction of episodes of HIV-1 related opportunistic infections. In addition, HIV-1 infection is associated with poor anthelminthic treatment outcome as compared to non-HIV infected individuals

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences
• Collaborators: National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania; University of Cambridge
• Treatments: Albendazole; Praziquantel

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Permanent residents and those who have lived in the village for more than 2 years.

• HIV-1 positive individuals only those with CD4+ ≥ 400 cells/μl

Exclusion Criteria:

• HIV-1 positive individuals with CD4+ < 350 cells/μl,

• Those who are on antiretroviral therapy (ARV)

• Pregnant women are excluded.

• Participants with chronic diseases such as leukemia, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis