A Randomized Prospective Study of Pyrimethamine Therapy for Prevention of Toxoplasmic Encephalitis in HIV-Infected Individuals With Serologic Evidence of Latent Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Summary

To evaluate pyrimethamine as a prophylactic agent against toxoplasmic encephalitis in individuals who are coinfected with HIV and latent Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmic encephalitis is a major cause of illness and death in AIDS patients. Standard treatment for toxoplasmic encephalitis is to combine pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. Continuous treatment is necessary to prevent recurrence of the disease, but constant use of pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine is associated with toxicity. Clindamycin has been shown to be effective in treatment of toxoplasmic encephalitis in animal studies. This study evaluates pyrimethamine as a preventive treatment against toxoplasmic encephalitis (per 3/26/91 amendment, clindamycin arm was discontinued).

Timeline

Start

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Primary completion

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Completion

1992-03

Publications

• Background Jacobson MA, Besch CL, Child C, Hafner R, Muth K, Deyton L. Clinical programs for clinical research on AIDS: description of a randomized prospective study of clindamycin versus pyrimethamine for prevention of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1991 Mar;10(3):195-8. doi: 10.1007/BF01964462.
• Background Jacobson MA, Besch CL, Child C, Hafner R, Matts JP, Muth K, Wentworth DN, Deyton L. Toxicity of clindamycin as prophylaxis for AIDS-associated toxoplasmic encephalitis. Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS. Lancet. 1992 Feb 8;339(8789):333-4. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)91649-s.
• Background Jacobson MA, Besch CL, Child C, Hafner R, Matts JP, Muth K, Wentworth DN, Neaton JD, Abrams D, Rimland D, et al. Primary prophylaxis with pyrimethamine for toxoplasmic encephalitis in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease: results of a randomized trial. Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS. J Infect Dis. 1994 Feb;169(2):384-94. doi: 10.1093/infdis/169.2.384.

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