Reslizumab to Prevent Post-treatment Eosinophilia in Loiasis

Summary

Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) treatment of Loa loa infection is complicated by the development of severe adverse reactions that are correlated with the number of circulating microfilariae in the blood. The cause of these reactions is unknown, but they are accompanied by a dramatic interleukin-5 (IL-5)-dependent increase in eosinophilia and evidence of eosinophil activation. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot study (conducted at the NIH Clinical Center) will assess whether and to what extent the administration of reslizumab (Cinquil ), a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against IL-5, given 3 to 7 days before administration of the anthelminthic drug DEC (at 3 mg/kg 3 times daily for 21 days), prevents the development of eosinophilia in 10 adult subjects with Loa loa infection and 0-5000 microfilariae/mL. Secondary outcomes will include the severity of post-treatment effects, markers of eosinophil activation, and effects of reslizumab on microfilarial clearance.

Timeline

Start

2010-04

Primary completion

2016-01

Completion

2017-09

Publications

• Background Limaye AP, Abrams JS, Silver JE, Ottesen EA, Nutman TB. Regulation of parasite-induced eosinophilia: selectively increased interleukin 5 production in helminth-infected patients. J Exp Med. 1990 Jul 1;172(1):399-402. doi: 10.1084/jem.172.1.399.
• Background Klion AD, Massougbodji A, Sadeler BC, Ottesen EA, Nutman TB. Loiasis in endemic and nonendemic populations: immunologically mediated differences in clinical presentation. J Infect Dis. 1991 Jun;163(6):1318-25. doi: 10.1093/infdis/163.6.1318.
• Background Klion AD, Ottesen EA, Nutman TB. Effectiveness of diethylcarbamazine in treating loiasis acquired by expatriate visitors to endemic regions: long-term follow-up. J Infect Dis. 1994 Mar;169(3):604-10. doi: 10.1093/infdis/169.3.604.

Drugs

Indications