A Pilot Study of Neurocysticercosis Treatment

Condition(s) targeted: Neurocysticercosis

Intervention: albendazole (Drug); placebo (Other)

Phase: Phase 3

Status: Completed

Sponsored by: Columbia University

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
W. Allen Hauser, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: G.H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University

The purpose of this study is to determine if treatment with albendazole improves the clinical outcome of neurocysticercosis infection and/or leads to the disappearance of cysts sooner when compared with symptomatic treatment.

Official title: A Pilot Study of Neurocysticercosis Treatment

Study design: Treatment, Randomized, Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Placebo Control, Parallel Assignment

Primary outcome: Cyst freedom

Secondary outcome:

cyst reduction

seizure freedom

Detailed description: Neurocysticercosis—a disease in which a young tapeworm infects the brain—is common in much of the developing world. It affects approximately 1 out of every 10 people in the United States and is said to be the primary cause of adult-onset epilepsy. The infection creates cysts in the brain, causing seizures and headaches among other symptoms. To date no successful preventive treatment for neurocysticercosis exists.

At present, medicines that kill the adult tapeworm in the stomach and intestines are also used to treat neurocysticercosis caused by the young tapeworm. However, in cases of neurocysticercosis, the methods of administration, doses, and duration of treatment with these medicines still have not been determined. Although these medicines may kill the worm in the brain more rapidly than the natural mechanisms of the body, the long-term benefit of using the medicines to eliminate the worms after the first 1 or 2 months is not clear. In addition, the drugs that kill the worm may be associated with in increased seizures and headache during treatment, and may cause inflammation of the meninges—the covering of the brain—leading to symptoms that may require surgery.

The goal of this trial is to determine if treatment with the antiparasitic agent albendazole improves the outcome of neurocysticercosis infection. This trial will also determine if albendazole leads to the disappearance of cysts sooner when compared with symptomatic treatment.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the study medication, albendazol, or a placebo, an inactive substance, for an 8-day inpatient or outpatient therapy period. Additionally, all participants will receive prednisolone, a corticosteroid, as well as other medications. Participants will remain under the care of a doctor for 2 years and will have regularly scheduled visits and testing.

Information learned in this study may lead to improved treatment of neurocysticercosis.

Minimum age: N/A. Maximum age: N/A. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients presenting with new onset of symptoms associated with neurocysticercosis

within two months of identification and have active and/or transitional neurocysticercosis cysts on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients with only calcifications

- Patients who are pregnant

- Patients with one of the following conditions: papilledema, active tuberculosis,

syphilis, ocular cysticercosis, active gastric ulcers, or a progressive and life-threatening disorder

- Patients who received anthelmintic drugs (AHD) during the year preceding presentation

or who received steroids within 30 days of presentation

Vicente Corral Moscoso Hospital of Cuenca, Centro de Epilepsia, Facultad de Ciencias Médicinas de la Universidad de Cuenca IDIUC (Área 5), Av. 12 de Abril. Cdla., Cuenca, Ecuador

Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin, Av. 10 de agosto y Bogotá, Quito, Ecuador

Hospital Eugenio Espejo, Servicio de Neurología, Av. Colombia s/n, Quito, Ecuador

Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital, Av. 25 de Julio Vía Puerto Marítimo, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Baca Ortiz Children's Hospital, Av. Colon s/n y 6 de Diciembre, Quito, Ecuador

Starting date: February 2001
Ending date: February 2005
Last updated: March 4, 2008