Clinical trial NCT00674921: Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis Cessation Study Among Stabilized HIV-Infected Adult Patients on HAART in Entebbe, Uganda
Official title: Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis Cessation Study Among Stabilized HIV-Infected Adult Patients on HAART in Entebbe, Uganda
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: HIV Infections
Keywords: Opportunistic Infections
AIDS
HIV
Treatment Experienced
Lead sponsor: MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Medical Research Council
First posted: 2008-05-08
Enrollment: 1650
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 16
Maximum age (years): 59
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: FACTORIAL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: According to the national guidelines in Uganda and to the World Health Organization guidelines, HIV-infected patients should receive cotrimoxazole prophylaxis indefinitely. There are, however, concerns regarding the indefinite application of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis among patients immunologically stabilized on HAART (e.g. high pill burden, drug-drug interactions, toxicity and poor adherence because of treatment fatigue). To date no empirical evidence is available regarding the safety and optimal timing for the cessation of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis among HAART patients who successfully restored immunological competence.

Research question: Does morbidity significantly differ between continuation (orthodox) and cessation (experimental) of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis among immuno-competent patients stable HAART in the resource-limited setting of Uganda?

Detailed description: Randomized double-blind placebo controlled equivalence trial to be conducted among consenting clinically healthy patients on HAART with 2 or more CD4 counts of 200 cells/ul or more for at least 3 months. The study will enable comparison of effects of randomized cessation of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis at 2 CD4-guided thresholds (200 Vs 350 cells/ul).

Rationale for inclusion of the placebo-controlled design

* The double-blind placebo controlled approach is feasible and ethically justified in this equipoise situation to allow for concealment of allocated intervention among investigators and patients and avoids accidental unblinding of investigators to the allocated interventions by trial patients.
* Maintenance of continued cotrimoxazole prophylaxis among patients randomized to this intervention will be easier if there is no awareness that those patients randomized to cessation of prophylaxis have a relative advantage of reduced pill burden.
* It would be very difficult to maintain cessation of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis among patients randomized to do so in our setting where cotrimoxazole is readily and cheaply available in drug shops, drug stores and pharmacies.

First randomisation

Patients who have been on HAART for at least 3 months and who have a confirmed CD4 count between 200 and 349 cells/ul will be randomized to continue prophylaxis with active cotrimoxazole or to cease prophylaxis with active cotrimoxazole but continue with ingestion of the placebo cotrimoxazole daily.

Second randomization

Patients who achieve a confirmed CD4 count of 350 cells/ul or more while on HAART will be randomized to continue prophylaxis with active cotrimoxazole or to cease prophylaxis with active cotrimoxazole but continue with ingestion of placebo cotrimoxazole daily. Some patients will have participated already in 1st randomization but others will be entering the trial at this stage for the first time.

Rationale for 4 trial arms

In order to assess the separate effects of cessation of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in trial patients at the 2 randomization stages above, those continuing with prophylaxis will be compared with those ceasing prophylaxis, necessitating 2 arms at each stage.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Consenting HIV-infected patient aged 16 years or older,
* Resident within 40 kms of study clinics
* Regularly attending clinics
* Documented HAART intake for at least 3 months
* Clinically healthy and stable
* Confirmed CD4 count of 200 cells/ul more.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Acutely ill patients with opportunistic or other infections
* Patients already enrolled in other HAART trials (e.g DART trial)
* First trimester pregnancy at enrolment
* Clinical and immunological evidence of HAART treatment failure
* Unable to attend study clinics regularly
* Hypersensitivity to cotrimoxazole

Primary outcomes:
measure: all-cause morbidity such as pneumonia or malaria (presumptive and definitive diagnosis)
timeFrame: 3 years
Secondary outcomes:
measure: sub-clinical laboratory abnormalities (such as neutropenia) and serious adverse events (such as death)
timeFrame: 3 years
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Entebbe
country: Uganda
facility: MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on Aids
Study officials:
affiliation: MRC/UVRI Unit
name: George Miiro, MSc, MBChB
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: MRC/UVRI Unit
name: Heiner Grosskurth, PhD, MD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
affiliation: MRC/UVRI Unit
name: Paula Munderi, MRCP, MBChB
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Zellweger C, Opravil M, Bernasconi E, Cavassini M, Bucher HC, Schiffer V, Wagels T, Flepp M, Rickenbach M, Furrer H; Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Long-term safety of discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis pneumonia: prospective multicentre study. AIDS. 2004 Oct 21;18(15):2047-53. doi: 10.1097/00002030-200410210-00009.
citation: Mussini C, Pezzotti P, Antinori A, Borghi V, Monforte Ad, Govoni A, De Luca A, Ammassari A, Mongiardo N, Cerri MC, Bedini A, Beltrami C, Ursitti MA, Bini T, Cossarizza A, Esposito R; Changes in Opportunistic Prophylaxis (CIOP) Study Group. Discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: a randomized trial by the CIOP Study Group. Clin Infect Dis. 2003 Mar 1;36(5):645-51. doi: 10.1086/367659. Epub 2003 Feb 12.
citation: Ledergerber B, Mocroft A, Reiss P, Furrer H, Kirk O, Bickel M, Uberti-Foppa C, Pradier C, D'Arminio Monforte A, Schneider MM, Lundgren JD; Eight European Study Groups. Discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with HIV infection who have a response to antiretroviral therapy. Eight European Study Groups. N Engl J Med. 2001 Jan 18;344(3):168-74. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200101183440302.
citation: Esposito S, Bojanin J, Porta A, Cesati L, Gualtieri L, Principi N. Discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis for Pneumocystis pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2005 Dec;24(12):1117-20. doi: 10.1097/01.inf.0000190038.53813.d2.
citation: Lopez Bernaldo de Quiros JC, Miro JM, Pena JM, Podzamczer D, Alberdi JC, Martinez E, Cosin J, Claramonte X, Gonzalez J, Domingo P, Casado JL, Ribera E; Grupo de Estudio del SIDA 04/98. A randomized trial of the discontinuation of primary and secondary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia after highly active antiretroviral therapy in patients with HIV infection. Grupo de Estudio del SIDA 04/98. N Engl J Med. 2001 Jan 18;344(3):159-67. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200101183440301.
citation: Furrer H, Egger M, Opravil M, Bernasconi E, Hirschel B, Battegay M, Telenti A, Vernazza PL, Rickenbach M, Flepp M, Malinverni R. Discontinuation of primary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV-1-infected adults treated with combination antiretroviral therapy. Swiss HIV Cohort Study. N Engl J Med. 1999 Apr 29;340(17):1301-6. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199904293401701.
citation: Weverling GJ, Mocroft A, Ledergerber B, Kirk O, Gonzales-Lahoz J, d'Arminio Monforte A, Proenca R, Phillips AN, Lundgren JD, Reiss P. Discontinuation of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis after start of highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1 infection. EuroSIDA Study Group. Lancet. 1999 Apr 17;353(9161):1293-8. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(99)03287-0.