Cryptococcal Optimal ART Timing Trial

Summary

The Cryptococcal Optimal ART Timing (COAT) trial seeks to determine after cryptococcal meningitis (CM) whether early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) prior to hospital discharge results in superior survival compared to standard initiation of ART started as an outpatient.

Timeline

Start

2010-11

Primary completion

2012-10

Completion

2013-03

Publications

• Background Rajasingham R, Williams D, Meya DB, Meintjes G, Boulware DR, Scriven J. Nosocomial drug-resistant bacteremia in 2 cohorts with cryptococcal meningitis, Africa. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Apr;20(4):722-4. doi: 10.3201/eid2004.131277. No abstract available.
• Background Carlson RD, Rolfes MA, Birkenkamp KE, Nakasujja N, Rajasingham R, Meya DB, Boulware DR. Predictors of neurocognitive outcomes on antiretroviral therapy after cryptococcal meningitis: a prospective cohort study. Metab Brain Dis. 2014 Jun;29(2):269-279. doi: 10.1007/s11011-013-9476-1. Epub 2014 Jan 9.
• Background Boulware DR, Rolfes MA, Rajasingham R, von Hohenberg M, Qin Z, Taseera K, Schutz C, Kwizera R, Butler EK, Meintjes G, Muzoora C, Bischof JC, Meya DB. Multisite validation of cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay and quantification by laser thermal contrast. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Jan;20(1):45-53. doi: 10.3201/eid2001.130906.
• Background Kabanda T, Siedner MJ, Klausner JD, Muzoora C, Boulware DR. Point-of-care diagnosis and prognostication of cryptococcal meningitis with the cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay on cerebrospinal fluid. Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Jan;58(1):113-6. doi: 10.1093/cid/cit641. Epub 2013 Sep 24.
• Background Robertson EJ, Najjuka G, Rolfes MA, Akampurira A, Jain N, Anantharanjit J, von Hohenberg M, Tassieri M, Carlsson A, Meya DB, Harrison TS, Fries BC, Boulware DR, Bicanic T. Cryptococcus neoformans ex vivo capsule size is associated with intracranial pressure and host immune response in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. J Infect Dis. 2014 Jan 1;209(1):74-82. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jit435. Epub 2013 Aug 14.
• Background Durski KN, Kuntz KM, Yasukawa K, Virnig BA, Meya DB, Boulware DR. Cost-effective diagnostic checklists for meningitis in resource-limited settings. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013 Jul 1;63(3):e101-8. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31828e1e56.
• Background Rajasingham R, Rolfes MA, Birkenkamp KE, Meya DB, Boulware DR. Cryptococcal meningitis treatment strategies in resource-limited settings: a cost-effectiveness analysis. PLoS Med. 2012;9(9):e1001316. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001316. Epub 2012 Sep 25.
• Background Rolfes MA, Hullsiek KH, Rhein J, Nabeta HW, Taseera K, Schutz C, Musubire A, Rajasingham R, Williams DA, Thienemann F, Muzoora C, Meintjes G, Meya DB, Boulware DR. The effect of therapeutic lumbar punctures on acute mortality from cryptococcal meningitis. Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Dec 1;59(11):1607-14. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciu596. Epub 2014 Jul 23.
• Background Scriven JE, Rhein J, Hullsiek KH, von Hohenberg M, Linder G, Rolfes MA, Williams DA, Taseera K, Meya DB, Meintjes G, Boulware DR; COAT Team. Early ART After Cryptococcal Meningitis Is Associated With Cerebrospinal Fluid Pleocytosis and Macrophage Activation in a Multisite Randomized Trial. J Infect Dis. 2015 Sep 1;212(5):769-78. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiv067. Epub 2015 Feb 4.
• Background Williams DA, Kiiza T, Kwizera R, Kiggundu R, Velamakanni S, Meya DB, Rhein J, Boulware DR. Evaluation of fingerstick cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay in HIV-infected persons: a diagnostic accuracy study. Clin Infect Dis. 2015 Aug 1;61(3):464-7. doi: 10.1093/cid/civ263. Epub 2015 Apr 1.
• Background Rajasingham R, Rhein J, Klammer K, Musubire A, Nabeta H, Akampurira A, Mossel EC, Williams DA, Boxrud DJ, Crabtree MB, Miller BR, Rolfes MA, Tengsupakul S, Andama AO, Meya DB, Boulware DR. Epidemiology of meningitis in an HIV-infected Ugandan cohort. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Feb;92(2):274-9. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0452. Epub 2014 Nov 10.
• Background Nabeta HW, Bahr NC, Rhein J, Fossland N, Kiragga AN, Meya DB, Dunlop SJ, Boulware DR. Accuracy of noninvasive intraocular pressure or optic nerve sheath diameter measurements for predicting elevated intracranial pressure in cryptococcal meningitis. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2014 Oct 11;1(3):ofu093. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofu093. eCollection 2014 Dec.
• Background Meya DB, Okurut S, Zziwa G, Rolfes MA, Kelsey M, Cose S, Joloba M, Naluyima P, Palmer BE, Kambugu A, Mayanja-Kizza H, Bohjanen PR, Eller MA, Wahl SM, Boulware DR, Manabe YC, Janoff EN. Cellular immune activation in cerebrospinal fluid from ugandans with cryptococcal meningitis and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. J Infect Dis. 2015 May 15;211(10):1597-606. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiu664. Epub 2014 Dec 9.
• Background Bahr NC, Rolfes MA, Musubire A, Nabeta H, Williams DA, Rhein J, Kambugu A, Meya DB, Boulware DR. Standardized electrolyte supplementation and fluid management improves survival during amphotericin therapy for cryptococcal meningitis in resource-limited settings. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2014 Aug 25;1(2):ofu070. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofu070. eCollection 2014 Sep.
• Background Kwizera R, Nguna J, Kiragga A, Nakavuma J, Rajasingham R, Boulware DR, Meya DB. Performance of cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay using saliva in Ugandans with CD4 <100. PLoS One. 2014 Jul 31;9(7):e103156. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103156. eCollection 2014.
• Results Boulware DR, Meya DB, Muzoora C, Rolfes MA, Huppler Hullsiek K, Musubire A, Taseera K, Nabeta HW, Schutz C, Williams DA, Rajasingham R, Rhein J, Thienemann F, Lo MW, Nielsen K, Bergemann TL, Kambugu A, Manabe YC, Janoff EN, Bohjanen PR, Meintjes G; COAT Trial Team. Timing of antiretroviral therapy after diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis. N Engl J Med. 2014 Jun 26;370(26):2487-98. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1312884.
• Sadiq A, Kwizera R, Kiiza TK, Ayebare P, Ahimbisibwe C, Ndyetukira JF, Boulware DR, Meya DB. Experiences, challenges, gaps, and strategies for counselling persons presenting with advanced HIV-associated meningitis in Uganda. AIDS Res Ther. 2025 Feb 19;22(1):21. doi: 10.1186/s12981-025-00705-z.
• Kwizera R, Sadiq A, Ndyetukira JF, Nalintya E, Williams D, Rhein J, Boulware DR, Meya DB; COAT and ASTRO trial teams. Impact of community engagement and social support on the outcomes of HIV-related meningitis clinical trials in a resource-limited setting. Res Involv Engagem. 2020 Aug 20;6:49. doi: 10.1186/s40900-020-00228-z. eCollection 2020.
• Skipper C, Schleiss MR, Bangdiwala AS, Hernandez-Alvarado N, Taseera K, Nabeta HW, Musubire AK, Lofgren SM, Wiesner DL, Rhein J, Rajasingham R, Schutz C, Meintjes G, Muzoora C, Meya DB, Boulware DR. Cytomegalovirus Viremia Associated With Increased Mortality in Cryptococcal Meningitis in Sub-Saharan Africa. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Jul 27;71(3):525-531. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz864.
• Bayiyana A, Okurut S, Nabatanzi R, Zziwa G, Boulware DR, Lutwama F, Meya D. Longitudinal Changes in Cd4+, Cd8+ T Cell Phenotype and Activation Marker Expression Following Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation among Patients with Cryptococcal Meningitis. J Fungi (Basel). 2019 Jul 17;5(3):63. doi: 10.3390/jof5030063.
• Tugume L, Rhein J, Hullsiek KH, Mpoza E, Kiggundu R, Ssebambulidde K, Schutz C, Taseera K, Williams DA, Abassi M, Muzoora C, Musubire AK, Meintjes G, Meya DB, Boulware DR; COAT and ASTRO-CM teams. HIV-Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis Occurring at Relatively Higher CD4 Counts. J Infect Dis. 2019 Feb 23;219(6):877-883. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy602.

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